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,
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?
118 comments:
Yay, Elana! We're psyched for you. Loving the French things. I was thinking of that scene from Better Off Dead (classic 80s movie and something tells me a girl like you knows this flick) where Lane's mom serves all those "Franch" items for dinner hehe...
Marissa :)
That's quite a year!
This year I've coasted, but last year was big for me. My non-fiction book and admittance into the NSA were the highlights.
What a year you have had! And it could not have happened to a nicer person. Congrats on Possession being published in France! That is amazing! I'm trying to enjoy the process, but it has been a bumpy ride.
Wow, Elana! Congratulations. You've had a great year.
Congrats on all the great news! That's awesome.
Congrats on such an amazing year! This is one of the books I'm REALLY looking forward to next year!
What an amazing year, no wonder you have that wonderful smile!
Congratulations and hope the upcoming year is even more fantastic.
Well you just made ME cry a little.
WOW, just WOW!!! And the adult cross-over thingy too?!?!
*hugs you tight*
Awesome!! Hey Elana, I'm going to read your book in English AND in French. Now THAT'S cool!!
So happy for all your successes!
Wow, Awwwwwwwesome. I will live through you and your success thank you very much and you can't make me stop. It's only until I get my own. :)
Wow Elana that's amazing!!! You're doing so well! I'm so impressed!!!
I got a very special email yesterday with someone interested in some work I've been doing and asked for a proposal for an upcoming book I'm going to write... do I hear publishing bells nearby? I think so!
Congratulations on a wonderfully exciting year.
Thanks for the reminder to enjoy where we are, as we work towards where we want to be.
CONGRATS!!!!
And may I wish you an even more fantastic year ahead. :)
(maybe the publisher will send you to France to promote your book!! Tres romantique, no? Oui.)
Also, welcome to picture story posts...kinda fun, huh? (takes a while to find all the pictures though, amiright?)
Also, I have long hair, always have, and it is one of my major sorrows that I cannot french braid.
And last...I'd eat the heck out of those bacon-topped cupcakes. YUM.
I am thankful every day for a million little and big things. It's the only way to live life... thankful. :)
Love,
Lola
I'm awestruck! What a totally amazing year you've had! Me? I'm still reeling from a cross country move, a new house, a new genre, my first short story publication and acquiring an agent. Thankful? You bet!
Congrats on the journey and as getting as far as you have, but bacon on cupcakes is just plain wrong. :)
Hey Elana- France! It think someone should pass a law that you get to visit the countries where your book is published...for free. I'm sure it will be an amazing addition to French culture. As important as sauteed snails, easily;) Congrats!
Wow, I get teary-eyed for you just reading that. What a year. You should feel so proud of yourself, and know that, in addition to your personal goals/accomplishments, you've had a big impact on many of us in the writing community. Congratulations, lady!
LOVE THIS!!! Wow, you've had quite a ride, huh? Thanks for letting us be a part of it. It's great watching this all happen for you.
Enjoy the journey. I know I sure am.
You've had a great year, Elana!!! SO freakin happy for you - you have no idea! And I'm most thakful for the friendships I've made on this journey...like ours. GO GET EM!!!
So...it took me a few minutes to get the french reference. I can admit when I'm slow, but as your FIRST Fangirl I'd have to say that I'm super stoked about all of your accomplishments! Don't worry,though, I won't show up to book signings dressed as you or carrying Elana dolls...yet...
Congrats jolie dame (sadly, I had to look that up 'cause I took Latin).
Thanks so much for sharing your incredible journey with us!
What a fabulous year. Congrats! Reading your year sum-up reminds me that anything is possible if you work hard enough. Thanks for the encouragement. And I loved the photos of all things French.
Congratulations Elana! What a fabulous year of awesome. You deserve every bit of your success.
I have a tear in my eye! An Amazing journey! Live it up and give those brown cows a show!!!!
what a beautiful post. you have such a good heart and I'm so happy for you!!
The things I'm most thankful for right now are my incredible critique partners, Erin and Karla, and my new little baby boy who is coming in January!
YAAAAAAAAAAY! Very happy for you!
Is that bacon on that cupcake?? :D
The last twelve months have been pretty spectacular and I'm soooo happy for you!
Congratulations, Elana!
You've worked so hard, Elana. You deserve this incredible year.
Wow!!! I would want to learn French just to read it in French! You must be soooo excited! What a year. Congrats!
it has been so fun to watch you go through all these amazing milestones - incredible year indeed, and I have no doubt the best is yet to come. :)
And where in the world did you find a pic of cupcakes with bacon on them? LOL They look disturbingly good :D
Woooo hoooo, Elana!! You've come so far in one year... and just think how much further you'll have come in yet another year! You're such an inspiration for so many people *raises hand* like me!
Congrats!
You've had quite an outstanding year! And congrats on the French being able to enjoy your book, too! Sacre bleu!
Those bacon cupcakes crack me up!
And yes, I am thankful for my blogger friends for their support and advice plus Verla Kay's boards for important info and of course my critiquers. We are one lucky community to have one another.
What an amazing journey. And just think - it's only going to get better. Soak it in and let yourself enjoy it. You've earned it.
(You know...I think you might actually have to go to Paris to satisfy the representation gods. Pretty sure I read that somewhere. Better get your ticket!)
Wonderful news and congratulations! All that in one year. Wow. You are my inspiration. My own last year has been a whirlwind, too, but not quite in the same way. I'm about a year behind you in the writing process, waiting to hear from agents. Hopefully, I'll have a blog like this in 12 more months.
Congrats again! *sending virtual cupcakes with sparkly candles*
x♥x
Noelle
Elana,
This post made me cry!
I think I've read everyone one of your posts as you've take this wild ride.
(I think you should go to France.....just sayin')
Wow.
So proud of you.
Shelley
Congrats, Elana, on all the wonderful steps you took to get to your goal. Definitely worth it, huh? ;)
Oh my gosh, Elana, I am so happy for you! It's been an amazing year for you and I know it's only going to get better! Congrats on everything!!!
What an amazing year! Congrats all around...
Congrats! What a fantastic year. Thanks for letting us all go along for the ride (blog-style). Looking forward to the next 12 months as well.
You are living the life every writer dreams of! And you deserve every speck of it!
Am thinking your ginormous gratitude will only spur MORE great things, too. Can't wait to hear about it all.
Congratulations!
are...are those bacon cupcakes?!
This is such a great post. Many, many congratulations to you! Can't wait to read the book. :)
Congratulations Elana! Now you have an excuse to go to France;)
OMG, bacon on the cupcakes! I'll have to tell my bacon-loving CP about that!
What a great year! Congratulations, Elana. You've earned it!!
Elana, that's so wonderful! Congratulations and all the best for continued success!
I can't wait to read the book!
Simply too awesome. I'd be afraid my head would explode. (BTW, Elana, your head won't explode, I promise.)
Congratulations, Elana! Now you definitely have to go to France to see your book on the shelves! That's so exciting, and most certainly a cupcake occasion :)
WHOOT!!! Elana! That is so fantastic--great news and BIG congrats~ :o)
I almost thought you were going to France, but that's awesome about your book.
I'm so happy for you! What a great thing to be able to share. You deserve a bacon cupcake or two!
Wow. What a ride this last year has been for you! Congratulations on all of your success.
Congratulations!
It's so well-deserved. Enjoy every moment.
Oh my gosh Elana! That is so exciting. :) Well deserved too. True that it's so important to appreciate wherever you are on your journey. Some parts can feel pretty rough, but no matter where you are, you're still in the game and that alone should be appreciated. Way to go on France! On all it really! :)
Lisa ~ YA Literature Lover
Good morning, Elana! You totally deserve every single bit of your success!! Reading your blog and seeing everything you're involved in - you're just amazing, girl!! Such dedication to the craft - it's inspired me!! So, thank you! My writing journey can only go full-steam-ahead from here! And have you tried the chocolate covered bacon, yet? Nummy... :)
Felicitations, Elana! Je suis tres contente pour toi. :)
(Congrats, Elana! I'm very happy for you. ... and the smiley is universal. :))
Congratz to you, Elana! Rah! What a great year for ya. Hilarious, your FRENCH braid, FRENCH fries, FRENCH bread--yeah, it took me a bit too, I'm slow. LOL I'm in no hurry and am content where I am (which is having a full out to two agents!) but it's interesting seeing your journey on the further side of the publication path. Exciting--enjoy the high!
Amazing Elana!
And I LOVE that gratitude is the central message... I wake being grateful for some aspect of my wonderful life every morning.
Much of my life is like what you described... I also have a book coming out shortly... so far it hasn't sold in France, but I believe selling the rights in Germany is still to come. And I dream of movie rights after that...
You made my mouth water, just looking at some of those dishes you presented.
A huge congratulations to you, Elana. You deserve every bit of goodness you are getting.
You've had an awesome year and because you are an awesome lady who had paid forward every ounce of it, you deserve it ten times over! Here's hoping next year will be even more amazing for you. :)
I can't believe I've been here with you this entire year, watching it all happen. How cool is that? I will continue to cheer for you every step of the way, Elana! You are one of the most positive forces out there, driving the rest of us, helping us believe it can happen. You deserve all of it and more...
P.S. Can I have one of your bacon cupcakes? :-)
Vive la France! I would totally read your book in French. As one of those bilingual Canadians, I would even understand it, hehe. :)
Yeay France!! Congratulations on your success, Elana! You sooooo deserve it all!
oh mon Dieu! c'est chouette.
Thanxgiving has come early for you lady and you deserve it and you know this is just the beginning other countries are bound to follow suit.
Is that a cupcake with bacon? lol.
Congrats!
That's so awesome, Elana!! Congrats! A lot can definitely happen in a year. :D
I'm so thrilled for you and your success. I just want you to know what an inspiration your success and attitude have been for me. Thanks and as they said above, you must go to France and see the book in the store over there. How awesome is that?
You forgot to mention helping LITERALLY THOUSANDS of other writers become better queriers, better critiquers, better bloggers, and better writers over all. Or does that fall under WriteOnCon?
Either way this is so full of win it's about to blow up all over the place.
Woohoo!! That is amazing Elana!! First, the cover is amazing. Second, France! You've come a long way sister! I want to get marketing tips from you.
November of '09 I got an agent. We submitted my work. Just this past month I got some good news that I can't share yet. So I'd say it was a good year!
woohoo!!
Tres awesome, girlie! <3
WOOO-HOOOOO!!!! *Jumps up and down* *throws confetti* You are going places girl! I would die for a year like you've had! I suggest we all go to France to celebrate! =)
A most definite Hizah to you my friend! That is some exciting, fantastic news!
Congrats! I hope you sell German rights soon, so I'll see it in bookstores here! :D
Yay! Congratulations on your foreign rights. :)
hi miss elana! you did a mistake. you said one thing wrong in this post. you said its luck. but for sure its that you got a ton of talent and youre just a really good writer. :) yikes! you got me hungry looking at all that food. that was real cool hints for french. big HOORAYS and YIPPEEES for your book going to france!
for me im thankful i got blogging cause it got me meeting and learning from neat special friends just like you. :)
...hugs from lenny
I am so beyond happy for you Elana. You are an amazing writer and have given so much to the community. You deserve every good thing that comes your way, including bacon, because it's just awesome.
hugs and congrats!
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse
Okay first, congrats, this is awesome, incredible news! You so totally deserve it. And then. Ew. Bacon cupcakes? Really?
What an amazing year! Massive congrats to you on all you've accomplished and worked so hard for!
Yay Elana! What a fabulous year.
I'm definitely grateful for my last year of writing too-- I've had smaller milestones, but milestones nonetheless!
And you should ask Dan Wells about his wife's maple bacon donuts. They'd make for a good celebratory treat too. :)
Woohoo! Congrats! Here's hoping you sell other rights too. :)
I am thankful for the journey. I just hope to take the next step sometime soon.
Let me be blunt here. I don't think luck has all that much to do it. I think your success has to do with talent and skill and the incredable amount of work you have put into this process. You deserve this not only because you are good, but because you strived for it. Congratulations.
Wonderful news, Elana, and I'm sure there's more to come. You deserve it all!
That is some year indeed! Congratulations. I feel I've come a long way this year in terms of understanding the publishing industry, learning and practicing the craft, getting involved in critique groups, etc. Writeoncon was certainly helpful in all of those areas.
Although all of these things seem to be "under the surface," I am pleased to say I am now querying. A long way away from where I was last year for sure.
Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your joy, knowledge and inspiration with us!
Congrats Elana! I can't think of anyone more deserving!
Oh my goodness, how exciting!!! HUGE CONGRATS!!!
Also, thanks for making me unbearably hungry when lunch is still a whole hour away. Quiet, stomach!
*pretends to act surprised* SO glad I didn't have to wait as long for you to announce this one. It's no fun wanting to celebrate for friends and not being able to!!!!
And now I can say this and have it mean so much more: make sure you remember us little people when you take over THE WORLD!!!!!!
Yay, Elana. Awesome news. :)
Congratulations Elana! See, hard work does pay off.
That's such a great year! Congrats! :)
Totally Amazingly Wonderful post :-)
Congrats on going French.
WOW, Elana! I've had a good year too. In the last twelve months I have sold two PBs, but since the first won't be out till Fall of 2012, it doesn't have nearly the sense of immediacy and excitement as yours!!!!! Super congrats. You deserve it!
OMG OMG OMG CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAYYYYYYYY :D :D
Congrats!!!! Woo-hoo!!!!
YAY Elana!! Congratulations! I'm so happy for you!
Thank you all! I've tried to keep up with the email, and I realized that not everyone allows me to see their email, so I wanted to shout from here too.
THANK YOU!! <3 <3 <3
YAY ELANA!!! Wow, what a year you have had! Can I be you? ;) You deserve it lovely, wonderful, giving person that you are. HUGE congrats!!!!
In love with this post!! Congrats, to you!!! :)What an amazing year!
Also, I want one of those cupcakes as well :)
You deserve all of these wonderful thing because of your hard work. The Universe is paying you back!
Ginormous amounts of congratulations to you, Elana. Fantastic stuff.
French! Hooray. This has sure been one amazing year! I remember sitting with you at LTUE looking at the list of publishers your agent had submitted too. I'm so happy for you. You totally deserve it!
C'est Bien! C'est Magnifique! I'm so happy for you, Elana! Now let's hope you get to go on book tour there, huh? ;)
Congrats, Elana! What a wonderful early Christmas present! And since we still have Thanksgiving yet to arrive, there could be more early Christmas surprises yet to come!
Enjoy the moment!!!
That's so exciting! Congrats!
This past year, I finished SPITFIRE, got into VCFA's MFA program in writing for children and young adults, and met some insanely awesome writer-people.
Within the next three months, I plan to do another round of serious revisions, beat a query letter into some serious shape, and send it out. Hopefully by February--I think I could query sooner, but I'm using SPITFIRE's reworked opening at school. Would be amazing to get feedback from real-time kidlit writers, so there's no point for me to rush! :)
Congrats again!
congrats on getting picked up in France! That's so awesome. Nothing but best wishes for you!
Since last year I partcipated and won my first NaNo and I finished three rounds of edits on that same novel. After this year's NaNo I want to take another pass at it in December. Then I think I might finally be ready to send it to a few beta readers.
Congratulations, Elana! What an incredible journey! It's been an amazing year for you. I hope that this is only a sign of all the good things to come for you!
Congrats on selling in France!!! That is so exciting!!!! GO YOU!
I love the picture journey!
Congrats on France! C'est magnifique!
And also for the recap. What a banner year for you!
What a fantastic post! so happy for you :)))
That's a fantastic year and fantastic news about the french sale! I am thankful that my debut novel came out last fall Dead Frog on the Porch and the second in the Megabyte Mystery series Dead Bird through the Cat Door just came out.
I gotz to get me some of those bacon capped cup cakes!
Stinkin' awesome! You deserve it. :)
Congratulations, Elana :) What a dream, right? Enjoy!
Determination. You got it girl.
Elana, you are such an inspiration. Love love love the France reference photos :D CONGRATS on everything and I am totally buying the French copy of Possession when I visit this summer!! hehe <3
Wow! What a year!!! May the future hold many more like this past one.
Thanks for the inspiring road trip. I have a feeling it will only get better. Let me know if I can help spread the word.
I just had a few crazy years myself - so crazy, I stopped writing for a while. Now, I'm back at it. For some reason writing helps put everything in perspective. I don't know how I went through what I went through without writing, and I'll never do that again. I'm happy that your busy year was full of writing. None of us should ever take a break from making sense of our lives.
Oui, oiu! Congrats on everything. And where the heck did you find that pic of the bacon-topped cupcakes? That's classic.
Hey, I've got your blog on my homepage and just found this-- con graduations!! I'm gonna check out your book. So great to hear you did it!
That's awesome you deserve your a hard worker and your willing to help others along the way. Grats.
Huge congrats for your success! :)
It's absolutely brilliant and well earnt.
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