So today is a super special day for a myriad of reasons. First off, one of my high school beffies/college roomies/I-still-like-her-now-even-though-there-is-no-title-for-us is having her baby today at 7:30 am. Talk about lucky, she can pencil in a time for the miracle of birth (yeah, C-sections are not always the best, but we are bright-siding the situation here). Welcome to the world, Ari! 
'Tis also the day of my first author interview by Christy Raedeke, with another to come next week! Soon, I will refer to myself soley in the third person, using words like "craft" and "journey" in annoying excess.
Also, a year from this very moment, yes the very moment that you are reading this blog, my first book will be published.
FO SHIZZLE! I am now in the months count-down range instead of the years! The time, it is wooshing.
But of course we all know the REAL reason I am posting today and that is because... drumroll please... 

LAST YEAR ON THIS DATE I GOT THE CALL FROM MY AGENT! TA-DA

Oh, and there is a holiday today. Good thing I have plenty of green beads...
With it being St. Patrick's Day and all, I got to thinking how much luck is involved with getting a book published. I've heard it argued both ways, and I got to say I am planted squarely in the middle.
Because I did a whole bunch of work to get that agent. I mean, dude, I passed up Target trips and hours of bad television and nutritional meals and human contact to get that book done. I worked my butt of in a very figurative (sadly) way.
But my agent contacting me? That's a bit of luck. Sure, I sent her the query, but that could have gotten lost. Or she totally could have been in a bad mood that day. What if she'd had a run-in with a demented, clepto beauty queen at the grocery store? (sigh, they're everywhere these days) Perhaps Ol' Queenie stole a ripe mango right from my agent's hands, who very well could have thought, If I never see a tiara again, I can die a happy, successful and accomplished literary icon. Of course, she'd have gone to work, opened my query and AUTO-REJECTED me. It could have happened. But it didn't. I'm very lucky.
Also, when we were submitting, JK Rowling & Stephenie Meyer & Jeff Kinney could have all gotten together and written a collaborative, sensationalized novel on world-hopping princesses. It would have made millions, leaving my tragically similar story in the editorial recycling bin. This would have been very unlucky, indeed.
Somehow, last spring, my stars aligned. Sarah DID read my query and DID ask for the full and DID like it and DID help me revise and (OK, I'll stop with the DID) sold that Lucky Little Story. It could have gone so very differently because once I sent that story out, my control diminished.
Of course, I wrote the baddest piece of awesome I could at the time. This upped the chances. So did the concept. So I'll take a bit of credit and say some of my luck was of my own making. 

I know lots of us are feeling rather unlucky lately and so I'd like to do something to improve your mood (Economy is crashing, but FREE BOOKS!!!) So, y'all, I am hosting a contest.

Oh my gosh, I'm crazy nervous now. This is my very first contest. Another Mid-March Miracle! Let's make sure it's a success (I measure success by having so many people enter that I get super confused and end up sending the wrong book to the wrong person who in turn sends me hate mail. Success!)

Today, in my elated state, I went to the book store. I might have looked at the L shelf and pretended it was 2010 and looked for my book. When I didn't see it, I bought some other faves. Since I love them and own them, these ones are for you...
1. AUDREY WAIT!

So funny. So funny. So funny. And reminded me I am a music loser because I have a freaking I-Phone and STILL haven't downloaded my I-Tunes onto it, submitting instead to an endless stream of Nursery Tunes in the car. 

2. ENVY

So the rule on this book is if you win it, you HAVE to read the first two in the series, LUXE and RUMORS. That way, when the fourth one comes out, I can have someone to squeal with/engage in a literary discourse.

3. THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER by Sarah Dessen


By far my favorite Sarah Dessen book. I have the fattiest crush on the love interest. Just remember HE IS MINE as you read.

4. PROM by Laurie Halse Anderson

I was going to buy WINTERGIRLS, but it's not out yet (you can buy your own!), so I went for this one. Although I haven't read it, my first date with my hubby was his senior prom, so I got a little sentimental seeing the cover. And yes, I did get lucky that night also, but in a very G (ok, G+, a new rating I just invented which is not quite PG) way. 

and in case you've already read these books, I'm throwing in a 

5.CRITIQUE BY LINDSEY THE LUCKSTER LEAVITT

Just a critique. That is where the lucky ends, mister.
(Whatever you want. A picture book, query letter, short story, first three chapters. Bring it! Just know I can't do anything beyond that, like shove it under my agent's door. Sorry, she lives super far away. It would be an expensive shove.)

How to play:
Post a comment. Tell about a time you got (G-PG rated) lucky and why it was important/fun/cool.
To triple your chances (TRIPLE), spread word of my hey-a-contest-would-be-fun-why-the-heck-not? contest on your blog and leave a comment here linking me to it. Don't worry, you don't have to cut and paste this whole mother of a post, just a link will do.
That's it! I'll pick the winners on Friday, March 20. First person gets to pick prize and so on until the goods are gone.
Holy Shamrocks. 
Game on!