Q: Will POSSESSION have a sequel? A: YES!!!

Sort of. Okay, not really.

But POSSESSION will have a companion that will be published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster) in Summer 2012. A lot of you haven't read POSSESSION yet, so I don't want to spoil too much.

Here's the Publisher's Marketplace deal: Elana Johnson's FUGITIVE, a companion to POSSESSION, again to Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse, for publication in Summer 2012, by Michelle Andelman at Regal Literary (NA).

Doesn't tell you much, does it? *lips zipped*

Okay, I will spill a couple of things:
1. FUGITIVE (companion novel, tentatively titled) is set in the same story world as POSSESSION.

2. There are two new narrating characters that you'll get to follow and experience some wicked control stuff with.

3. You will see some characters from POSSESSION on the page in FUGITIVE, so there are sequential elements in the companion novel.

4. No, I will not tell you who you'll see. But...

5. Someone flies.

6. Someone lies.

7. Someone dies.

Okay, enough secretz!

The real question is: Should I celebrate with bacon, sour patch kids, or Big Macs? Hmm...decisions, decisions.

And holy brown cows, Batman! There is an amazing POSSESSION contest going on right now via Ali Cross, Christine Fonseca, Beth Revis, Lisa & Laura Roecker, Jamie Harrington, and Shannon Messenger! CHECK IT OUT.

The Last 12 Months

Holy brown cows, people. Believe me when I say that I know how lucky I am. I am extremely thankful to look back over the past 12 months and see the road I never thought I'd travel.

A little picture recap for all those of you who are new here, which is about 1400 people.

November 11, 2009: I sign with the most fabulous Michelle Andelman.

February, 24, 2010: My debut novel sells to the amazing editor Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse.

In the ensuing months, I help organize an online writing conference,

edit my novel, change the title, get the cover image,

receive ARCs,

see my book go up for preorder online, make a new author website, a dedicated novel website, and think, sleep, eat, dream marketing ideas with my insane besties (Christine, LiLa, Beth).


November 5, 2010: I receive word that my YA novel will be cross-promoted in the adult catalog at Simon & Schuster. I don't think life can get any better.


I am wrong. Here're some hints...

Ideas?

How about now?

Guess, you know you want to...

It's not just food, people.

One last chance...

November 8, 2010: Possession sells in France. That's right! Michel Lafon (who will also publish Alyson Noel's and Ally Carter's books) will be publishing Possession in French--and the French Canadian market.

Later that day, I cry. And it's the good kind. The thankful kind. The holy-cow-how-did-I-get-so-lucky-and-wow-I'm-overwhelmed kind. And I think I want some of these:

So my message to you today is to be thankful for wherever you are in the process. Just starting. In the middle. Almost there. Wherever. You'll never be in this exact spot again. Enjoy it.

Look back over the last year. How far have you come? Have you been thankful for the journey?

Story of a Girl

December 2007: Girl is about to turn thirty. That's right. The big 3-0.

Girl decides to write about the first three decades of her life.

Girl likes this writing thing.

Girl writes, girl writes, girl writes. A whole book, she writes.

Girl researches, girl researches, girl researches.

Girl queries, girl queries, girl queries.

Girl waits, girl waits, girl waits.

Girl discovers blogging.

Girl blogs, girl blogs, girl blogs.

Girl queries, girl writes, girl waits.

Girl blogs. Girl shelves first failed novel.

February 2009: Girl enters ABNA 2009 with a new novel. Makes it to the quarter-finals.

Girl screams. Girl celebrates. Girl finds much needed confidence.

Girl rewrites, girl rewrites, girl rewrites.

Girl queries new novel.

Girl waits.

Girl blogs.

Girl revises, girl revises, girl revises.

Girl queries.

Girl waits.

November 2009: Girl signs with the amazing Michelle Andelman at Lynn C. Franklin.

Girl screams. Girl celebrates. Girl finds much needed confidence.

Girl writes.

Girl blogs.

Girl rewrites another novel while waiting and blogging.

Girl checks email, checks email, checks email.

Girl waits. Blogs. Breathes -- involuntarily.

February 25, 2010: Girl gets an email.

Opens it.

Girl can't breathe. Black spots crowd her vision.

Phone rings.

Girl snaps to attention. Looks at caller ID. It's a 212 area code.

Girl shoves peanut butter M&M's at girl kidlet and races upstairs, locking the bedroom door behind her. (Super parenting there! Nominate girl for mother of the year!)

Girl talks to agent.

The email is really true.

Girl.

Has.

Book.

Deal.

Girl screams. Girl celebrates. Girl might faint.

From Publisher's Marketplace: Elana Johnson's CONTROL ISSUES, set in a brainwashed society where those gifted with mind control best join the powers that be, but one rebel girl tries to beat them at their own game, to Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse, by Michelle Andelman at Lynn Franklin Associates (NA).

(Girl blogs.)

Girl gets gifts from editor:

Girl wonders what's better than books and chocolate.

Oh yeah.

Sleep. (Girl sleeps. zzzzzzzzz)