Meet and Greet

[Georgia McBride]

Hi everyone! I'm Georgia! Welcome to YALITCHAT.ORG, the non-profit organization born from our twitter chats on Wednesdays. Hopefully you'll find a rich, egnaging community from which to draw inspiration, education and friendship.

I am so happy you have decided to join, we are GLAD to have you.

Please take a moment to browse the events and groups pages. We have mini-communities to support all of your interests. If you don't see something, ask.

 

Please also note that you have been automatically added to our newsletter distribution list. If you have a question about your membership, please send a note to [e-mail].

 

Feel free to 'Like' our Facebook Page, too. It will keep you updated on all the great happens that go on here. http://www.facebook.com/yalitchat

WELCOME!

[Andrea Buginsky]

Hi everyone. My name's Andrea. I write YA fantasy. My first book, "The Chosen," was published by Solstice Publishing last December. I'm currently workig on more books in the series.

 

I have a BA in Mass Communications-Journalsim, and work as a part-time freelance writer for different websites. I've enjoyed the Wed. nights chats at #YALitChat, and wanted to check out the group. I look forward to getting to know you better.

 

Everyone have a great week! "See" you at Wednesday's chat!

 

Andrea

 

[C. Lee McKenzie]

Hi Andrea. Congrats on your book and your future ones. Welcome to YALitChat. I know you'll love it here.

[Rebecca Ryals Russell]

Welcome Andrea!! I love it here. I know you will, too. It's like an exclusive club for us Kidlits, lol.

Andrea Buginsky said:

Hi everyone. My name's Andrea. I write YA fantasy. My first book, "The Chosen," was published by Solstice Publishing last December. I'm currently workig on more books in the series.

 

I have a BA in Mass Communications-Journalsim, and work as a part-time freelance writer for different websites. I've enjoyed the Wed. nights chats at #YALitChat, and wanted to check out the group. I look forward to getting to know you better.

 

Everyone have a great week! "See" you at Wednesday's chat!

 

Andrea

 

[Andrea Buginsky]

Thank you Rebecca :) Good to see you here.

Rebecca Ryals Russell said:

Welcome Andrea!! I love it here. I know you will, too. It's like an exclusive club for us Kidlits, lol.

Andrea Buginsky said:

Hi everyone. My name's Andrea. I write YA fantasy. My first book, "The Chosen," was published by Solstice Publishing last December. I'm currently workig on more books in the series.

 

I have a BA in Mass Communications-Journalsim, and work as a part-time freelance writer for different websites. I've enjoyed the Wed. nights chats at #YALitChat, and wanted to check out the group. I look forward to getting to know you better.

 

Everyone have a great week! "See" you at Wednesday's chat!

 

Andrea

 

[Andrea Buginsky]

Thank you C. Lee :)

C. Lee McKenzie said:

Hi Andrea. Congrats on your book and your future ones. Welcome to YALitChat. I know you'll love it here.

[Sheri Larsen]

Hi Andrea! Glad you've found us! Welcome.

Andrea Buginsky said:

Thank you C. Lee :)

C. Lee McKenzie said:

Hi Andrea. Congrats on your book and your future ones. Welcome to YALitChat. I know you'll love it here.

[Nicōle Olea]

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! To our newest members who joined this last month! 

 

Hope you've gotten yourself familiar with the site. Should you need any help! I'm here!

 

Nicole Olea

Membership Ambassador

[Balin Jones]

Hi everyone, my name is Balin, and I am very excited to be part of YALitChat. I am working on my first YA novel. Although it's my 6th completed novel. I shopped an upper MG novel around last year and while I had lots of interest the consensus was they didn't feel they got to know my protagonist. That was my fault. To make the MG word count I cut 30K words. It was the introspection and emotional scenes I sliced. I am now putting it back to its original version with a few changes based on agent suggestions and prepping it for self-pub and e-book with Createspace over at Amazon. 

 

My current novel is YA paranormal, and my first novel in first person. Tripping back to a sixteen year old was pretty easy, as it was one of the best years of my life. I was in control, smarter than any adult, and learned the fine art of manipulation! Now to get the current lingo, tunes, and electronics! Luckily, I have a few fifteen year olds in my life to pass things by.

 

For years, I have helped edit other writers' work, formatted books for self-publication and worked with cover artists and graphic art software to design book covers. Which is great knowledge now that I'm doing it for myself!

 

I will shop my new book to agents first. So hopefully, YALitChat will help me be better prepared this time.

[Cecilia Muoki]

Hi Georgia! Thanks for the welcome.

 

A little about me: I work as an assitant nurse, Currently working on my first YA urban fantasy. (My debut novel) and right now editing it.

 

It will be good getting to know you all.

Celia

 

[Ash Yuhas]

Hello, all! It's high time I (re)introduced myself. My full name is Ashlynn, though I'm just as happy to go by the easy-to-spell Ash. :)

 

I used to be active on this site about two years ago, and found an internship with the Maryland Writers Association through it (one of the many awesome aspects of YALitChat)! Then I graduated with a Professional Writing degree, got married, and tried my hand at the 9-5 "real job" thing which ultimately didn't pan out.

 

Now I'm working full time on my MS, an alternate history of Ireland where the Tuatha de Danaan (the fairy folk) were never conquered and eventually came to be the modern day 'Tuathans,' leaving a magical trace on early twentieth century history as they struggle for freedom from the Sasanachs. The story's told through close third/multiple POV. The narration mainly revolves around three 16-17yr olds whose lives take unexpected turns when a student is murdered at their prep academy and the Sasanachs shut them down.

 

I'm about 180 pages into the first draft. I'm part of a writing group that starts in October and hope to have the beginning of the story edited once through by the time that begins. I look forward to getting some wonderful advice, feedback, and commiseration from my fellow writers! Cheers!

 

Ashlynn

[Sheri Larsen]

Ash - it's wonderful to meet you! Looks like you've found your inner road to writing! Congrats. :)

Ash Yuhas said:

Hello, all! It's high time I (re)introduced myself. My full name is Ashlynn, though I'm just as happy to go by the easy-to-spell Ash. :)

 

I used to be active on this site about two years ago, and found an internship with the Maryland Writers Association through it (one of the many awesome aspects of YALitChat)! Then I graduated with a Professional Writing degree, got married, and tried my hand at the 9-5 "real job" thing which ultimately didn't pan out.

 

Now I'm working full time on my MS, an alternate history of Ireland where the Tuatha de Danaan (the fairy folk) were never conquered and eventually came to be the modern day 'Tuathans,' leaving a magical trace on early twentieth century history as they struggle for freedom from the Sasanachs. The story's told through close third/multiple POV. The narration mainly revolves around three 16-17yr olds whose lives take unexpected turns when a student is murdered at their prep academy and the Sasanachs shut them down.

 

I'm about 180 pages into the first draft. I'm part of a writing group that starts in October and hope to have the beginning of the story edited once through by the time that begins. I look forward to getting some wonderful advice, feedback, and commiseration from my fellow writers! Cheers!

 

Ashlynn

[Barbara Ehrentreu]

Hi Nicole! I just published my first YA novel, If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor. It was published as an e-book and will probably go into print in about 6 months. I spent 5 years looking for a traditional publisher and I got many rejections. So I went with someone I knew and trusted who had just started her own publishing company. I am not sorry I did. What I would suggest to you is don't give up if you really want to get your book published. Of course, you are not at that stage yet. 

 

When writing for the YA market it is very important to appeal to who they are. I'm not sure what your book is about, so it's hard to tell you anything. There are lots of genres of YA, fantasy, horror, urban fantasy, etc. My book is pure YA fiction, though it does have a problem or two in there too. When you write with conviction and truth your readers will get it. So make sure you get your ms critiqued a lot by groups who are experienced writers. Don't send it out right away when you finish it. You will probably need more than one draft to get it right. Remember it's perseverance that gets you published and also having the right friends helps.:) Also, do you have a blog? Are you on Facebook and Twitter? The important thing is to start building a platform so people will recognize who you are. 

 

Good luck and I am looking forward to learning more about your ms.