Meet the New Critique Group!

Wanted to introduce my new critique group members, all of whom are VERY cool, very open, and excellent critiquers.  Don't know the value of a good critique group?  Check out Mary Kaley's blog on Critiquing.  I posted a guest blog there a while ago and am now even more convinced that a critique group is ESSENTIAL to quality writing.

Anyway, here's my group, and a lovely bunch of ladies they are:

Ilene Wong - writing one of the most unique YA novels I've read (follow her at @IleneYWong).  She's repped by Andrea Brown, an agency I hope to get into (query letter went out last night!)

Helen Kitrosser - a very insightful and witty non-fiction writer, great critiquer.  Soon to be featured in COBBLESTONE magazine!  (Ok, so she queried, but hey, this is OPTIMISM ABOUNDS, right?)

K.M. Walston (Kate) - the PUBLISHED author in our group, unfortunately was unable to make our first meeting, but her critique of my YA book floored me and honored me like no other.  Check out her blog here and definitely check out her new book CRACKED, due out in 2012... Follow her at @KMWalton1

Kelly Lyman & Christine Danek - I introduce them together cuz they're a pair.  They actually do seem like sisters from another...uh, mutha, I guess (doesn't rhyme...)  But they also are YA writers with some VERY unique ideas and stories.  Just gotta get them to write together... ;)  Follow them at 

@kellylyman and @mywritingjourne respectively.

Suzanne Gaadt - another non-fiction writer of little known women lost in the annals of a male-dominated history.  Great stuff, and soon to be mandatory reading for my 2 daughters.  

Leigh Ann Tyson - the mystery woman.  Haven't met her yet, but is working with Random House on her latest historical fiction picture book about a mule learning he WAS Big Enough.  Optimism.  She'll fit in perfectly here.  Can't wait to meet her.

And finally, Aimee Rodriguez - writer of middle grade fantasy, terrific ideas and middle grade voice.  Will be fun following her story through.

So those are the women I'll be spending one Sunday with every month, hoping to refine my new project "SOLARIS" into a huge hit and helping each of them on their way to published glory.

Meanwhile, we're all back to pounding the pavement for agents and publishers, but focused on getting our words down.

Next on the blog - what the heck SOLARIS is all about!