I HEART books!! (Just wish I wasn't afraid to touch them!)

     You're probably saying, "Well, duh!"  I know...here I am...former middle school Language Arts teacher, current school librarian, and wannabe writer.  Of course I love books!  I just sometimes get overwhelmed a bit by my (dare I say "unhealthy?") obsession with books.   
     In case you didn't know I happen to be a bit of a germophobe.  This characteristic of mine results in an insane amount of handwashing and an inability to check out a library book.  Yes, I realize I'm a librarian.  I don't check out library books, however, unless they have JUST come into my schools' libraries from a new book order and I am the first one to check them out.  (I will allow myself to check out audio books, which is strange but I guess that is because I don't touch the cd case that often, just to change disks.  A book, however, requires constant touching.  Then with those icky germs on them?  Gack!  This girl just can't hack it!)
     So, since I love books so much I buy a butt-load of them.  I'm doing my part to make sure Barnes and Noble and Borders stay in business (although Borders isn't doing too hot right now, are they?)  With every pay check I get I either place a book order or take a trip to a book store.  My personal home library (which I've cataloged using Delicious Library software) is now close to 2200 books (and counting.)  I'm quite the book hoarder and it's a point of pride for me when someone walks into my house, sees my library and says, "Wow, this is the coolest room!"  
     The problem I just realized today is that when searching for a specific book online, say at BN.COM or Amazon, I find that title and then end up following the "you may also like" links to the others, throwing several of them into my shopping cart as well.  I don't know when to stop! I accrue books faster then I can read them and this is creating a bit of a literary bottleneck in my brain.  For instance, I always have at least one or two ficiton books going...usual something paranormal, often something teen-y.  I also have one, sometimes two audio books going.  Lately, I've been trying to have a non-fiction book going at the same time.  I've never been a non-fic fan and always found it hard to focus on non-fic when I was a student.  I do realize the great knowledge building potential of non-fic though, so I'm trying to expand my mind.  
      One of my areas of personal interest is veganism/animal rights.  Reading about these topics makes me feel good (although the animal rights stuff can be depressing when you look at some of the horrible situations animals are put in...hence the reason I'm now a vegan.  But I digress.) I was on a blog today that I visit often (www.thekindlife.com) and they were discussing starting a book club.  I thought, "What fun!  I'll start right away!"  The book they suggested is called (pardon the crude title) MEAT IS FOR PUSSIES. This drove me to BN.COM to look for the book, which is in led me to find three others that looked fabulous, all on the same topic.  EATING ANIMALS, YOGA AND VEGETARIANISM, and THE WORLD PEACE DIET.  I held myself back and did NOT order them yet as, frankly, I should wait for my next paycheck because I need to get some necessities first (gas, groceries, books from the Scholastic Book Fair I'm hosting at my junior high next week ;P) but I'm sure these four books will be added to the Darr library any time now.  
     Why am I telling you this?  I don't know.  Sometimes it helps me clarify my thoughts by ranting in writing.  I'm curious if other book lovers are as big of suckers as I am or do I just lack self-control?  I've typically been weak my whole adult life in that if I want something I buy it.  In recent years, books have been my main drug of choice.  IF ONLY I COULD CHECK OUT A LIBRARY BOOK!!  What's cheaper, do you think?  My book buying habits or intensive psychotherapy?

Another project idea..."True" ghost stories

     I just had an idea for another project I could start.  A book about "true" ghost stories, possibly ones around the area where I live.  A friend of mine (thank you Linda!) was telling me about this book she is reading called CLEVELAND GHOSTS.  (She reads a lot of books like this, which, in my opinion, is uber-cool of her :P).  Inside this book was a bookmark from Schiffer Publishing advertising that they were looking for authors to write books about local ghost stories.  I looked up the website, saw their information, and now a seed has been planted in my silly brain!
     I'm a big believer in the paranormal and have had plenty of personal experiences with "things that go bump in the night."  My hubby and I watch all three GHOST HUNTERS shows religiously (GHOST HUNTERS, GHOST HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL, and GHOST HUNTERS ACADEMY).  We've been wanting to get into the "ghost hunting" thing for quite some time and are mainly waiting until we buy the needed equipment (like digital voice recorders, EMF meters, high quality video cam with night vision, etc.)  Unfortunately, this stuff isn't always cheap and every time we think of purchasing we have other uses for our money...like paying the mortage! 
   We like to visit cemeteries when we go on vacation.  Old buildings fascinate us with their rich history and air of mystery.  Believe it or not, we have a resident ghost that we call "Petey" who likes to move stuff around and give us the occasional "tingles."  Heck, SHADOW GIRL is a novel I wrote that is all about ghosts. 
   So considering all these factors, why am I NOT writing a book about local ghost stories?  Sure seems like it would be a fun project.  We'd get to travel around and investigate/research different areas, perhaps encountering some of these awesome supernatural specters ourselves!  
    I'm going to put some serious thought into this project.  I realize I'm probably getting in over my head but...who knows?  It might be a good thing.  Although my current "TO DO" list for my writing life is getting a bit cumbersome.
     *Continue polishing/editing SHADOW GIRL
     *Continue work on SG synopsis (the current bane of my existence!)
     *Queries for SG
     *Edits/cuts for OUT OF THE BROOM CLOSET
     *Queries for OOTBC
     *Continue writing UNDER THE SPELL (OOTBC #2)
     *Start writing SG #2
     *Keep blogging and updating www.erinlukensdarr.com
and now...since I'm a glutton for punishment...
     *possibly consider/begin work on local ghost story book
and consequently...
     *pitch local ghost story book to publishers/agents

     Gee, that's definitely a full time (plus!) job!  Too bad I have to have my day job.  Don't get me wrong, being a librarian is actually pretty cool.  It just doesn't leave much time for writing.  Speaking of day jobs, I better get back to mine!  Just wanted to blog while these thoughts were fresh in my head.  (Again, thanks Linda, for the idea! You rock!)
   

Rolling right along...Queries for SHADOW GIRL

Whew!  Just spent about three hours querying for SHADOW GIRL.  Sent out 11 more today to various agents.  So far I've only sent 17, although considering I've done that within the past 8 days I'd say that's pretty good (for me, anyway!)  I've heard back with rejections from 3 of those 17 but oh well!  That's the writing biz!  Keep writing and keep sending, that's what I've got to do!  
My mind is mushy now and my butt hurts from sitting on this couch so long.  (Poor couch cushions may not recover!) I'm off to clear my head with some yoga and then some pleasure reading.  (Currently reading YA dystopian novel EMPTY by Suzanne Weyn.  Very good!  Scary premise about the world running out of oil and how that effects everything.  Makes me want to start hoarding supplies like a 1950's middle-aged man who builds a bomb shelter in his basement.)

THE MADNESS HAS BEGUN! Sending queries for SHADOW GIRL

I've finally gotten off my butt and started sending query letters out to agents about SHADOW GIRL!  Yay, me! I just sent off my first six today.  I'm making it a personal (and very reasonable) goal to send at least three a week.  This should be no sweat at all once I have all the stuff done I need to have...The synopsis is still eluding me but I'm going to get crackin' on that this week.  When I wrote the synopsis for OUT OF THE BROOM CLOSET it about sucked the life out of me so I'm not looking forward to the one for SG.  Ah well, such is a writer's life, I guess.  If I really want to make it in this field I have to BE PRODUCTIVE and "keep my head down and power through" (as "Michael Bluth"from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT...one of the funniest shows in history...likes to say.)  
    I also need to get editing again.  I've edited SG already but need to go back and catch what I missed last time.  I have an acquaintance who proofreads professionally and could do SG for a few hundred bucks.  I might just hire her if I can't seem get this done.  Wish me luck!  I want to get this agent thing taken care of so I can focus on my next project, which is either continuing UNDER THE SPELL (the sequel to OUT OF THE BROOM CLOSET) or SG#2.

SHADOW GIRL...an altered query letter

What do you think?  I think I like this one better than the first???

Dear ______________,

What’s a girl to do when she finds out her new best friend is a ghost and the guy she’s falling for is really her teacher?

 SHADOW GIRL is a modern day paranormal romance for teens set in Massachusetts. It is the first book in a proposed series and is complete at a 64,000 words.

Cora Reilly is not your normal seventeen year old.  Despite her kind demeanor, keen intelligence and striking appearance, she’s a social leper.  People avoid her at all costs, seeming to dread being in her presence.  She unwillingly gives off a vibe that frightens, her unusual violet eyes chilling people to the core.  Besides her parents and a handful of others, Cora is alone in this world.

Alone, that is, until she meets Shyla Martin, a new student at Bayberry High School.  The girls become fast friends and it isn’t long until Shyla reveals her secret: She’s dead and Cora is her “shadow keeper,” a magical human who can communicate with (and assist) the dead.  Cora’s first case is a tough one involving a suicide victim and his possessed father.

As Cora peels back the layers of reality, she discovers more supernatural sidekicks, one of whom is the handsome Xavier Farhat, another “shadow keeper” sent to be her mentor.  Even more, she discovers her inner power, self-worth, and the magic that friendship can bring to one’s soul.

I have been a teen librarian for nine years, giving me a wide exposure to young adult literature.  I work with teens everyday and know what they enjoy.  SHADOW GIRL fits nicely into the current trend of paranormal romance fiction for teens.  I was a published book reviewer for KLIATT magazine for two years.  I am also a member of the Romance Writers of America.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you regarding possible representation for SHADOW GIRL.

SHADOW GIRL query letter (draft)

Okay, so a recent post promised that I'd get my SHADOW GIRL query done by 1/30/11 or else I'd be a lowlife loser who didn't deserve to have her dreams come true!  (A bit harsh and dramatic perhaps but I had to guilt myself into action.)  Well, I'm proud to say that I freaking met my deadline!  In fact, I actually wrote the query letter that very same day.  I had a couple of my "fans" read it (thank you Cookie, George, and Bruce!) and got their input.  A few alterations later and this is what I came up with.   (Still haven't sent any of these queries to any agents/publishers but...at least I'm a step closer!)

Dear ________________________,

I am writing to you because your agency represents _______________ and I feel my book is in the same vein as her work.  SHADOW GIRL is a modern day paranormal romance for teens set in Massachusetts. It is the first book in a proposed series and is complete at a 64,000 words.  (FIRST PARAGRAPH VARIES DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM SENDING IT...IF THE AGENT REPS AN AUTHOR THAT MY BOOK IS SIMILAR TO I DO THE ABOVE.  IF NOT, I ALTER THE LETTER.)

Cora Reilly is not your normal seventeen year old.  Despite her kind demeanor, keen intelligence and striking appearance, she’s a social leper.  People avoid her at all costs, seeming to dread being in her presence.  She unwillingly gives off a vibe that frightens, her unusual violet eyes chilling people to the core.  Besides her parents and a handful of others, Cora is alone in this world.

Alone, that is, until she meets Shyla Martin, a new student at Bayberry High School.  The girls become fast friends and it isn’t long until Shyla reveals her secret: She’s dead and Cora is her “shadow keeper,” a magical human who can communicate with (and assist) the dead.  Cora’s first case is a tough one involving a suicide victim and his demonically possessed father.

As Cora peels back the layers of reality, she discovers more supernatural sidekicks, one of whom is the handsome Xavier Farhat, another “shadow keeper” sent to be her mentor.  Even more, she discovers her inner power, self-worth, and the magic that friendship can bring to one’s soul.

I have been a librarian for nine years, giving me a wide exposure to literature.  I was a published book reviewer for KLIATT magazine for two years.  I am also a member of the Romance Writers of America.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.