Dude, So Much Awesome

I presented two classes (Querying & Dialogue) at the Storymakers Conference this weekend, and honestly, I don't think I've ever had this much fun at a Conference. It was amazing.

Here is an example of just one meal. I'd name everyone, but it would probably blow your minds, and I wouldn't feel good about doing that. You probably recognize a few of them...but that many cool people at one table? I'm pretty sure we surpassed the ratio of coolness normally allowed in a single location...and it rocked.

I met so many fantastic people in one weekend! And I discovered something: agents in person are my new favorite group of people. Michelle Wolfson and Holly Root were utterly lovely and SO much fun!

Anyway, great books + great people + great classes = a fabulous weekend. I have the best job ever. I'm totally re-energized and ready to dig in to my edits and sequel.

What about you? Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Hooray for Conferences!

No, this picture has nothing to do with conferences...I just think it's hilarious. :)

Don't judge.

Back on topic -- I'm really excited, and SUPER busy right now, getting ready for the LDStorymakers Conference this weekend. I'm teaching two classes (Query & Dialogue) with Kasie West & Natalie Whipple. I love those girls and it's going to be so fun spending that time together. On top of all this awesome, I get to see so many fun friends from the writing community that I just don't see except for at conferences.

Oh, yes. Much fun fantastic-ness shall be had.

Conferences are so great for many reasons, but I'll be honest. My main purpose for conferences is that they re-charge my writer battery. They make me remember why I love doing this and how much I need to keep doing it. It helps me remember the joy that this part of my life gives me.

And I always need that.

What about you? Have you ever been to a conference? What was your favorite part about it?

Differing Roads to Publication

Some of you know this story, some know pieces, others know all. Some of you may not know any of it. So, I'll do a slightly abbreviated version of the whole trip--forgotten luggage, missed flights, trains going the wrong direction--the whole bit. Of course, names may be changed to protect the innocent.

From here on out, you can call me Gertrude.

Once upon a time, I went on submission. I'd seen a few friends do it. I knew what to expect. You go out, you wait an allotted amount of time, you either sell or you don't, life goes on. I was prepared. -- Wrong.

Mistake...no, that's harsh...let's call it:

Misunderstanding #1 - No one can ever prepare for being on submission. Everyone's journey is different. You just can't.

So, my book was out in the world. Now, I would sit back and wait for one of those two things (sell or not) to happen. Less than two weeks later, we had a U.S. offer.

Yay! Huzzah! *happy dance* and all that hoopla, right? Wrong.

Misunderstanding #2 - Getting an offer does not mean you are done.

It was an offer, and we were ecstatic!! But it wasn't a good fit. So, we kept looking. Two weeks later, we got an e-mail from a literary scout who had somehow gotten her hands on my book and LOVED it.

Hooray! I love when people love my book!! What's a literary scout, anyway? Probably not a very big deal, right? Wrong.

Misunderstanding #3 - A literary scout LOVING a book is HUGE. Massively, excitingly, deals & auctions in other countries huge. (For more info on this, click here.)

So, here I was, getting published in two foreign countries and not the U.S. yet. Everything had happened so fast. Okay, so this road was nothing like the other friends I've seen, but still...not too shabby. Then we got an offer from two major U.S. houses to do a revision with their fantastic editors. Hooray! So close! I can't get this close and have it not work out, right? ...Wrong.

Misunderstanding #4 - No matter how much an editor loves your book. Occasionally, it is out of their control and they still can't buy it. (Selling foreign rights first has its perks for sure, but there are also drawbacks. But I'll save that for another post.)

I'm not going to lie. At this point, I was broken. I was convinced the Universe was conspiring against me getting my book published in a language I can actually read.

I possess a fairly thick skin, but the ups-and-downs were beating me to a pulp and I was waving the proverbial white flag. I e-mailed my agent and asked her if we could please just shelve it and maybe come back to it later. After all, if I was ready to give up, she should be, too. Right? ...Wrong.


Misunderstanding #5 - The best agent is the one who won't give up on you (or your books) when there is still hope, even if you beg them to.

The amazing Kathleen said we weren't there yet. She reminded me that all along, we'd had interest and we just hadn't found the right fit yet...and then, she found it.

Misunderstanding #6 - If you don't find the right fit immediately, it doesn't mean it isn't still out there...waiting.

Flux is seriously the perfect fit. They even have a Male Protagonist section on their website, for goodness sake! And even though we took a bit of a meandering route for INSOMNIA to end up there, I couldn't be happier.

I've been waiting for a while to announce, and I'm so happy I finally got to share my news. Thank you for all the support. You all rock. :)

Everyone's road is different, but we all want to end up in the same place. We all have different ups-and-downs, we all struggle and thrive at different times. And we all work our butts off for every inch we gain.

I don't wish I'd had less bumps. I'm happy for the strength and understanding I got from each bruise and even though it hurt like crazy...I know I'm a better writer because of it.

So, there you go. And yes, this is totally the abbreviated version. If you read this far, you totally deserve a cookie.

Cuteness Substitute

I know I said I would post my road to publishing story today, but I'm going to do it Monday. Forgive me? I have to take my new baby kitten to the vet instead, plus, I think more people read blogs on Mondays.

So, first, I will show you said kitten, so you will understand importance of/cuteness involved in my task:

Zeus - God of the Sky...duh, can't you tell?

Second, I have a task for you...

Last night, I had a dream that all my writer friends were birds and I was shooting them at a house full of pigs.

What do you think this means? Most entertaining answer(judged by me, of course) wins a prize! :)

Have a great weekend!

I'm Getting Published in -- Wait For It -- The U.S.!!

Yay!! I finally get to announce my good news I've been sitting on for awhile now. INSOMNIA will be published in this little country called *insert drumroll here*

The United States.

Dude...can I get a FINALLY and a few heck yeahs?!

And there is more good news! I'm getting published with Flux! Who I think is the perfect fit for this edgy, male-protagonist, YA thriller. For reals.

Here is my Publishers Marketplace announcement to prove I'm not making this shiz up:

		Children's: Young Adult		J.R. Johansson's INSOMNIA, about a teen boy who thought spending every night trapped in other people's dreams was bad, but discovers that losing control of his own body and mind is so much worse, to Brian Farrey at Flux, ina two-book deal, for publication in 2013, by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (NA). Foreign: Taryn Fagerness Agency Film: Brandy Rivers at Gersh

And still there is more awesomeness...

I know what you're thinking: It's not possible.

I tell you: Yes, my bloggy friend. Yes, it is.

And then we eat cupcakes...

Oh wait, I forgot to tell you the more awesomeness! Here it is:

As of right now, my debut novel is scheduled to be published in Spring/Summer 2013 -- wait for it -- in ALL THREE COUNTRIES! Yep. In Italy, Germany, and the U.S. at the same time!

Whoa. Just reading that paragraph makes me dizzy, or it could be from me screaming and jumping up and down...Nah, I think it's the paragraph.

Does it get any better? I think not. May the glee and hyper-ness I am feeling be contagious! :) Seriously. I feel so blessed.

Check back on Friday if you're interested and, assuming I've calmed down a bit, I'll tell you about my road to publication and the ups and downs of doing it backwards. :) Huzzah!

Thank You, Smart People!

I'm revisiting a post from three years ago this morning. The reason is, well, honestly...it's because this can't be said often enough. Enjoy!


I've made a discovery. Without warning, and clearly without knowledge, I've been surrounded by smart people. I don't know why they've chosen me--but I like it.


They are always there, to give advice, to help with decision making--it's like my own personal extra brain to help with my thinking process.

I ask them questions, and they answer. And their answers make sense. And the topics vary, everything from plot questions to how to fix up my deck. They know everything...


It's spooky.


My suggestion to all of you, find the smart people. Charm them into helping you. Or you could just do what I did--look like you seriously need help.


If you need it, they will come.


And also, thank you to my own personal smart people. You know who you are. ;) What smart people are you grateful for this Monday morning?

The Legend of Korra

If you haven't heard of Avatar: The Last Airbender series, I pity you, and you should remedy this immediately. It's on Netflix.

Like now.

I can wait.

I'm going to assume you've seen it now and are thoroughly in love with the story-telling and characters. (You're welcome, by the way.)

All of this is leading up to something. No really, it is. Basically, I want to talk about how I'm SO excited about a new spin-off of this series. It's called Avatar: The Legend of Korra, and it's fantastic. It's Asian-Steampunk in an amazingly immersive world with truly dynamic characters.

I love it. Like, love-it-from-the-first-five-minutes-of-the-first-episode-when-the-toddler-version-of-Korra-explodes-into-the-room-bellowing-"I'm the Avatar! Deal with it!"-kind-of-love-it.

Just. Awesome.

Anyway, so...so...good. If you have kids, do them a favor...better yet, if you're a person who enjoys the awesome, do yourself a favor. Watch it!