Amy Fellner Dominy, Award-Winning Author of Tween/Teen Novels
Amy Fellner Dominy, Award-Winning Author of Tween/Teen Novels
It’s been a week of worsts—and that’s been a good thing! 
Today I’m wrapping up My WORST Blog Tour. I had a great time launching my new middle grade novel, Audition & Subtraction, by reliving some of my own middle school memories. Thanks to everyone who jumped in with comments, and shared stories. Most especially, thanks to my wonderful hosts:
The Best Things That Came from my Worst Experiences.
Prepare yourselves, people. Next Monday I launch…
How best to describe it? EPIC? GRANDIOSE? LIFE-CHANGING?
A tad bit humiliating?
In honor of my new middle grade novel, Audition & Subtraction, I’m about dredge up my worst memories (and photos) of my middle-school years. Why, you ask? The truth is, as I was writing Audition & Subtraction, it reminded me of all of my own middle school angst—and the fact that eighth grade could be a difficult time for us all. Friendships are shifting, romances are beginning to develop, kids are pulling away from their families and everyone is trying to figure out where they fit in to this big picture we call the world.
Craziness. That’s the only way to describe the feeling. Like I’m on an out-of-control ferris wheel and I’m flying in circles…so many ups and downs and the world spinning out of control. Also the felling that I either want to scream or puke. Or both. (But hopefully not at the same time.)
But I digress. There’s just one month left until my book debuts and I’m constantly struggling with the fear that there’s something I’m not doing. Something I was supposed to do. Something I wish I hadn’t done.
I knew it was coming.
Editor Stacy has had my manuscript for a month or so and she had promised to get to it soon. I’d finished revisions — for a second time — and read each and every word out loud to make sure I hadn’t overlooked anything jarring. (That’s 55, 708 words for those of you who were wondering.) But the final word would be Stacys. Did I make the necessary revisions? Did she like the changes?
I’ve never gotten a contract 12 pages long, so I’m feeling very… well… authorish. I printed it out and curled up on my comfy chair with a cup of coffee. (If only I needed half-glasses — it would really complete the picture.) I was determined to read this word-for-word and understand every syllable. But even with good intentions my eyes blurred by page 9. Basically, it’s many of the things in the Deal Memo, just expanded.
I thought the contract would come first. Wrong. (Again.)
Instead, what I received first (attached to my congratulations email) was the DEAL MEMO. It’s one page, from Walker Books, and I have to admit I thought it was the contract at first. I should know better — what lawyer could stop at only 1 page? (Fortunately, my agent said something that clued me in before I could say anything to humiliate myself.)
First, a bit about the book I sold: It’s the story of 14-year-old Ellie Taylor, a Jewish girl who attends speech camp and discovers she’ll have to hide her religion if she wants to win a scholarship to a high school. (And she really wants to win it!) To complicate matters, there’s romantic sizzle with the competition and Ellie’s crazy grandfather is on a quest for the perfect matzoh ball soup.
