From Dawn to Dusk: A Writer’s Guide to Recognizing God’s Presence in the Wait

Time ticks on, yet the metaphorical doors leading to answered prayers remain closed, and the hallway between opportunities stretches as far as the eye can see. What else can be done but wait, hope and pray? How can God be actively at work within a place of stillness?

When I speak at schools and other venues, I often tell people my job is to be rejected. I give thousands of hours to a pixelated stack of white pages on an illuminated computer screen. I pour my heart and soul into each sentence, yet I spend as much time waiting for a YES from publishers and accepting countless NOs as I do composing a novel. I’m on a thousand-hour coffee date with possibilities that may or may not become my reality.

Life is a hallway of locked doors. No matter how much someone knocks, unless it is God’s will, the panels will stay sealed and act as protective barriers between the sovereign plan and one’s desires. Some doors never open; those that might have been concealed from sight or kept from consideration unlock at unpredictable moments.

Opportunities come in fleeting gasps, subtle whispers and screeches of celebration. They’re delivered in blinks and extensive spans. They come when we ache for them, when we least expect them.

Rejection is a large portion of my job, but God-glorified waiting is a lifestyle I have accepted, applied. God-glorified waiting is an attitude of surrender, a faith in His promise to open doors—it is a life of knocking and being content in whichever threshold becomes available.

Waiting is not a passive verb.

God is not bound by time.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Our lives are caged into a block of linear years. We exist in a timeline, but God surpasses chronology. He does not abide by the earthy rules that hold our bodies captive. He works beyond seconds, hours and days. If we have asked Him to be Lord of our lives, we have been adopted into His master plan where nothing can happen too early or too late.

The timelessness of God is a truth we can cling to as we wait for His doors to unlock.

God is not bound by dreams.

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

God cares for the desires of our hearts. He does not toy with us, give dreams and not fulfill His promises. If we are divinely called to a destination, He will pave the path.

Our dreams cannot build parameters around God’s power. He has the ability to change our hearts, replace desires with burning passions. He can do immeasurably more with us when we walk the hallway of life, knock and ask for His guidance.

God is not bound by choices.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

Salvation through Jesus Christ is the ultimate open door—it makes available to us God’s perfect plan. Grace declares victory over the choices we make, and God’s will prevails.

Waiting is a state of motion where God can reveal His truth and mold our hearts. We must be sure to recognize His voice in the perceived stillness, listen to Him above all else and dwell within the comfort of communication with Him.

Dreams can be fulfilled while walking down a hallway.

What Agents Don’t Tell You: From Query to Contract

 Have you written a book?

Are you looking for an agent?

As a two-time self-published author now signed with Hartline Literary Agency and past intern of Harper Collins, I have experienced the pros and cons of both traditional and nontraditional publishing.

In this blog post, I will share what agents don’t tell you and offer tips on how to land a contract with an agency.

Agents are the real-estate agents of publishing, acting as the “middle-men” between sellers and buyers, authors and publishers. They add credibility to manuscripts, reducing publishers’ slush piles to a few thousand proposals.

The best ways to land an agent:

Since the emergence of literary agencies, there has been a standard process for querying. Writers send their pitch letters, sometimes the first few pages of their manuscript, to agents and wait up to six-months for a response. If an agent is interested, the author then sends more of the manuscript. This process continues until the interested agent reads the whole book and offers a contract.

Pros of the system: Agents are able to weed out books that aren’t ready for the market, and authors have the ability to query as many agents as desired.

Cons of the system: Many queries and manuscripts are left in an agent’s slush pile, some never to be examined. Those reviewed are strictly analyzed and refused if the structure, word count, etc. are less than optimal. This denies writers the chance to fully present their writing and the marketability of their work.

With such a systematic process in place, how can writers raise their chances of landing agents?

Conferences offer a unique opportunity for writers to have face-to-face interaction with agents and other professionals within the publishing industry. Often, writers are able to schedule time with the faculty to pitch their books. Agents can then put a face to a query letter and are more likely to select the book for representation.

Secret . . .

The key to a successful pitch isn’t scheduling time with an agent and delivering a top-notch hook; it is the connection fused between the writer and the agent.

Tip . . .

When you attend a writers’ conference, focus on genuine relationship building. Connect with other writers and publishing professionals. This will allow you to show your marketability, your book’s overall potential, and most importantly, give you the chance to learn. Ask questions. Listen to what others have to say. Apply the advice presented to you.

By networking, you unlock the second and most secret way to landing an agent.

Word-of-Mouth is a method rarely mentioned by agents but has proven the most successful for me. I pitched at a writers’ conference in New York City and queried over a hundred agents, but I didn’t land a contract with an agency until my close friend, who I met by inquiring about a book review, referred me to her boss/agent. Because of her recommendation, my query was raised to the top of the slush pile and given more notice.

Remember: Who you know is everything.

Build your platform. Befriend others who are more and less experienced. You never know which conversation over a cup of coffee will gift an opportunity.

How to make yourself more appealing to agents:

Professionalism is candy to an agent. When you query, send a proposal, and generally communicate, make sure to be well-informed and respectful. Nothing is more of a turn-off than a sloppy proposal and a nagging, ignorant author.

Do your research—everything you need to know about the submission process can be found online. Edit your work, even your emails. And please, be educated on the publishing industry and current marketplace.

Tips . . .

An agent’s job is to shop your book to publishers, making them your business partner, not your teacher, editor, and confidant. Respect their time and workload, and they will respect you.

Platform is number-one priority to publishers, which gives it extreme importance to agents. Books are a dime-a-dozen, so make your book more than a book. Give it backing. Create a brand for yourself by blogging, being active on social media, etc. And formulate a viable, creative marketing plan for your book.

To express your dreams, you must first express yourself. Readers are more likely to buy a book if they have a connection with the author.

In conclusion, agents and publishers aren’t the formula of a bestselling book, rather they’re the projectors showing your masterpiece on an international screen. You are your book’s greatest advocate. Once you relinquish reliance on the standard system and fight to make your work an asset to the publishing industry, you find your place within it.
Authors, self-published and traditionally-published, are entrepreneurs. Those who treat their writing as a business stand more of a chance at achieving success. 

How To Pitch A Novel To Agents

In the following videos, I discuss my experience pitching to literary agents, share some tips, and also introduce my college roommate. Pardon the laughter, text alert, and web cam!

 

 

Due to the fact that I’m now a busy college student, my upcoming blog posts will revolve around time management, writing versus school, and author patience.

Stay tuned.

The Writer's Conference: What Every Writer Needs To Know

The publishing industry is a magic trick.

People like its thrill, excitement, and outcome but they don’t know how the “trick” is performed. Some assume that it just happens—the pretty lady just happens to survive being sawed in half; the wordy document on a writer’s computer just happens to turn into a bestseller. Others believe in the poof—poof, the white rabbit disappears; poof, someone has an agent and a three-book contract with HarperCollins.

I’d like to apologize now for the major spoiler.

JUST HAPPENS AND POOF DO NOT EXIST!

I’ve been a part of the publishing world ever since I self-published my first book at age fifteen—three years ago. At the time, self-publishing wasn’t looked at as a credible publishing venue, which forced me to be my own advocate and publicist. I worked seven hours a day on my books—writing, editing, formatting, and marketing. It didn’t take long for me to learn that JUST HAPPENS and POOF were illusions.

Self-publishing has finally gained the positive reputation it deserves—credible, independent, time-consuming, a task for the relentless and fearless. Countless writers, authors, and professionals have told me that self-publishing is too much work for them, which doesn’t make such sense to me since working with a traditional publisher forces a writer to be dependent on someone else’s calendar and preference.

Stepping off the soapbox…

“Hard work and minimal success” should be the publishing industry’s subtitle. To breakthrough, an author has to query to the right agent, at the right time, have a book that appeals to the current trends, contract with the right publishing house, and pray that booksellers will give their work the time of day. Once a book makes it to shelves, the promotional work begins.

In other words, every aspect of the “equation” has to be flawless for a book to be successful.

Don’t feel discouraged. Although it is difficult to publish, there are ways you can boost your odds.

Last week, I was in New York City attending the Writer’s Digest Conference. My mission was to pitch my latest book to agents. I was successful! Even though it took several nights of freak-outs, a lot of praying, and hours of rehearsal, I managed to present my work to nine literary agents.

My best friend, Tessa Emily Hall (author of Purple Moon), found her publisher at a writer’s conference. Like she informed me, I want to inform you of the benefits of attending a writer’s conference.

The Strand Bookstore (New York City)

 

What is a writer’s conference?

A writer’s conference is an event designed to help writers develop their craft, network, and become aware of the current publishing market.

Why should I spend hundreds of dollars to attend one?

Writer’s conferences present a unique opportunity. They allow you to have face-time with professionals in the industry, learn insider secrets, and also connect with other writers.

Connections determine success! The people you know will decide how far you go.

Invest in yourself. A few hundred dollars might be your “foot in the door.”

What should I consider when choosing a conference?

Are you attending to learn more about the writing craft or to pitch?

If you want to develop your writing ability, attend a conference with a variety of writing-geared lectures and credible speakers.

If you’re in the market for an agent, choose a conference with a good number of visiting agents who represent your genre.

How can I prepare for the pitch?

Finish your book. Don’t pitch unless your work is ready to be sold.

Prepare and practice your pitch. Do this well in advance. You need time to write, practice, revise, and revise again. I changed my pitch ten times before the conference and rewrote it two hours before my pitch session. Be ready for last-minute changes.

Research. Make a list of the agents who represent your genre. Know what they’re seeking. Also, be aware of current book trends and know how your book might fit into the tough marketplace.

 

Below are some tips to help you craft an effective query letter. I’ll post a pitch tutorial vlog next week that will include pitch etiquette, proper format, etcetera.

The Dreaded Query Letter…. (Visit QueryShark.com for more tips)

A query letter is a business letter meant to demonstrate your competence and entice agents to read your pages. Remember, formulating a query isn’t a creative writing assignment. You don’t have to showcase your writing abilities. Queries are supposed to be straightforward.

To an agent, your book is a product, not a piece of art.

 

There are two questions you must answer when writing your query.

1.      Who is your main character?

2.      What does s/he want?

How to convey what the book is about:

1.      The main character must decide whether to________

If s/he decides to do (this), the consequences s/he faces are________

The book’s stakes are of dire importance! I cannot stress this enough. If an agent reads your query and does not believe your main character has anything to lose, s/he will not ask for pages.

 

A query letter should include:

-        Word count

-        Title

-        Any publishing credits you have

 

Instant rejection phrases include:

“Fiction novel…”   DUH!

“Sure bestseller.”

“Oprah.”

“Film potential.”

“Dear agent.” – “Dear Sir or Madam.”

 

DON’T ASK RHETORICAL QUESTIONS!

Proper query format….

Subject: Query – Title by Author

Dear (Name of Agent),

If you met them at a conference, tell them.

First: Answer the question “what is this book about?” Have a line break every three lines.

Second: Your writing credits and bio.

Third: Genre/ Word-count/ Title

Closing: Thanks for your time and consideration.

Your name

Email

Telephone

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Physical address

 

Welcome To New York

Expectations.

We all have them.

When we buy a cup of coffee, we expect to taste coffee. We expect our cars to crank. We expect people to act like us and feel shocked when they don’t.

Expectations.

They hurt the best of us.

I am currently in New York City to attend a writing conference. I’ve been anticipating this trip for six-months. In my imagination, I saw myself striding through the city like a celebrity —fashionable, confident, with perfect hair and perfect makeup. I could see myself biking through Central Park, lounging on the rail of a ferry with Manhattan glistening behind me. I fantasized riding the subway and maybe, just maybe falling into Zac Efron’s arms when the vehicle lurched to a stop.

I had expectations. Crazy expectations. And over the past few days, I’ve learned that one of the biggest mistakes people make is to have unrealistic expectations of themselves and the world.

I’ve sure learned my lesson.

 

Day one.

At the airport, I was body-scanned. Thoroughly. My luggage was probed—the security guards thought my business cards were bullets. Anyway, after being suspected of terrorism, I flew to New York City and arrived at my apartment. I ate dinner at a diner, walked to Radio City and the Rockefeller Center, and prepared myself for the best week of my life.

New York City is beautiful, chaotic, and unceasing. People move fast. They drive fast, live fast. Millions of people crammed onto an island and they merge with each other, crowd into crowd, rarely conversing or smiling. Even though they’re surrounded by so many faces, everyone seems alone.

 

View from my apartment building's roof

Two of the cats who share my apartment

Day two.

Early morning and a trip to the local bagel shop. Very crowded. Bagged bagel to go. Not good. I’d been told that the bagels in NYC were the best. I was expecting the BEST, but a bagel can only be the BEST when it’s warm, smothered in cream cheese, not cold and plain.

My mom and I purchased metro cards for the subway and mapped our route. We were going to meet Tara Brose (model and sister of Tessa Emily Hall) for coffee in SOHO. We did, but it took a while for us to make the commute. The subway is confusing! My mom and I navigated London and Berlin without a problem, but New York had us baffled. When we finally reached SOHO, we got lost, wandered block after block before finally arriving at the coffeehouse. By that point, I didn’t look like the celebrity I’d envisioned myself to be. I was sweaty, sticky, with frizzy hair and smeared lipstick. And my shoes were giving me blisters! Wonderful!

SOHO

              Tara arrived—fashionable, confident, with perfect hair and perfect makeup. She is such an amazing person. I loved talking with her, drinking some truly terrific coffee, and being in an air-conditioned, toilet-accessible building.

 Afterwards, my mom and I returned to the dreaded subway and attempted to commute to the Staten Island Ferry. We ended up in Brooklyn—not our desired destination—and after an hour of hopping trains, we made it to the ferry. Let me mention that I didn’t fall into Zac Efron’s arms during the ordeal.

 

I saw the Statue of Liberty. I walked miles, block-to-block, U-turn, block-to-block again. By the time I returned to the apartment, I was starving, hot, my feet were covered in blisters and my makeup had sloughed off. If there was an award for CRANKIEST PERSON, I probably would’ve won it at that moment. But there wasn’t enough time for me to grovel in my pain and frustration. My mom and I had tickets to see Wicked on Broadway. Finally, a chance for me to look AMAZING! Black leather dress, high-heels, red lipstick—I was ready for a night on the town.

Wicked was incredible. I met one of the lead performers and was feeling good. My mom and I walked to Times Square. Everything was good. Better than good. Great! But adversity should be my middle name because on our way back to the apartment, we got lost, forgot to eat dinner, and fought the masses for miles. My leather dress and high-heels didn’t seem so spectacular anymore. Quite the opposite. My feet were on fire, blistered, oozing, about to contract gangrene and fall off. CRANKIEST PERSON suddenly became I AM GOING TO MUDER YOU IF YOU DON’T FEED ME AND PEEL THESE DANG SHOES OFF MY FEET.

My poor mom managed to half-drag me back to the apartment, feed me a dinner of carrot juice and hummus, and let me prop up my mangled feet.

Word of advice. Fashion doesn’t matter! No one cares what you’re wearing. Dress for comfort. You don’t want to be miserable. Tennis shoes and exercise shorts are the way to go!

 

Day 3.

The subway strikes again!

My mom and I were headed for Central Park but ended up in Harlem. For a brief moment, we feared for our lives and then quickly called a cab. We went to Café Lalo, a wonderful restaurant and set of the film “You’ve Got Mail.” Best lunch, coffee, and desert I’ve had in a while. We, then, stepped outside…only to be caught in a downpour. Using takeout menus as umbrellas, we ran through the rain, laughing, and stood under an awning with an older lady for several minutes. The storm strengthened. We ran to a deli. No umbrellas. We ran to a grocer. Umbrellas and a flower shop!

Umbrella Prototype

 

By that point, my shoes were filled with water. My clothes (the same outfit I was wearing the day earlier) were soaked. Standing in the rain, surrounded by wet strangers, I realized that all the frustration and twisted plans were memories I could laugh about with my mom. Flexibility would make my trip amazing, not pretty clothes and achieved expectations.

Perfection is an illusion, a lie we tell ourselves. Nothing is perfect in this world.

Amused by our misadventures, my mom and I walked through Central Park, went shopping for new shoes and dry clothes, and enjoyed a nice dinner of sushi at a local restaurant.

I found Kyle and Cora's rock from JUST STRENGTH!

        If life went according to plan and fit our expectations, it wouldn’t be interesting. Adversity gives our stories plot-twists, intrigue, and a chance for God to mold us into better people. Loosen up. Inspect your expectations. Are they realistic? Does perfection dictate your happiness? I challenge you to find joy even when things go wrong.

Look for laughter in the storm.

And blistered feet.

Newsy Tuesday

Because of my approaching conference, I’m taking a leave of absence from Blogger to focus on final preparations. When you hear from me again, I’ll be in New York City. All of my crazy experiences will be shared on this page—travel tips, awkward moments, mishaps, pictures, everything. But until then, follow me on Twitter @PrimeWayWriter, Instagram @authorcarolinegeorge, or check out my Facebook page. I’ll be posting continuous updates.

Thanks for your support and readership! Below are contest information, a list of upcoming posts, and several reader recommendations.

Future Posts:

·        Welcome To New York

·        The Writer’s Conference: What All Writers Need To Know

·        Three Cheers For Teens

·        The Pitch (Video Blog)

·        Student Vs. Author

For Writers: Check out author Tessa Emily Hall’s Monday Minute Challenge! It’s a wonderful contest that tests your writing skills.

Book Recommendation: WARM BODIES by Isaac Marion

Coffee Of The Day: Chock Full o’ Nuts

CONTEST: Don’t forget about the Social Media Challenge! To enter the contest, post the hashtag #IAmTheVestige on your social media account. Each post will act as an entry. The more you tweet, Instagram, blog, and Facebook #IAmTheVestige, the more times you will be entered into the final drawing. There isn’t an entry limit. Post as much or as little as you want. Just know that the more entries you have, the more likely you are to win the PRIZE PACK!

 

How To Make Inspiration Boards For Your Novel

What is more dangerous than a writer with a computer?

A writer with a pair of scissors and a glue stick!

 

Send me pictures of your inspiration board for a chance to be featured on my blog.

authorcarolinegeorge@gmail.com

Self-Publishing: What You Need To Know

To most people, self-publishing is an obscure, confusing topic. This makes sense. For all of history, traditional publication has been the only way to achieve author-status. Not anymore. Now there are various ways to make books available to the public.

Below is an email I received today and my response. It briefly answers several of the questions I’ve been asked regarding self-publication.

 

Hi, Caroline. I was just reading your blog and was wondering if you self-published The Prime Way Program. I don't see anything about a publisher anywhere, so I just assumed it was self-published... If so, could you tell me a little about the process? How did you go about the professional editing/cover design/marketing? Is it time consuming? I'm attempting to write a book right now, so I'm starting to {halfway} considering all my options. I don't want to think too much about it because, obviously, the book's not even written yet.

I really enjoy your writing and I can't wait to hear from you!

Ashley

 

Hello, Ashley.

I'm a self-published author and am pursuing traditional publication for my latest book.

Self-publishing is the fastest, most independent form of publication. It takes a ton of time, effort, and motivation but if dedicated, you can have your book on shelves in less than six months. There are hundreds of companies that specialize in helping writers self-publish their books, but these services are expensive and steal your opportunity to learn about the publishing industry, marketing, formatting, etc.

I set a goal to be published by age sixteen and self-publishing was the only option that allowed me to reach my goal. And since I didn’t have the financial resources to afford professional help, I had to learn how to be my own publisher, agent, editor, publicist, and graphic designer.

Be aware. If you want your book to be released within a matter of months, you’ll need to work at least six hours a day.

The process is complex, but everything you need to know can be found on the internet. I downloaded several eBook publishing manuals onto my Kindle and referred to them when formatting my book. There are also countless blogs and articles that offer help to writer’s self-publishing their novels. Be proactive. Don’t fear research. It’ll become your best friend.

When editing, I recruited teachers, authors, and a retired journalist to critique my manuscript—the more credible editors you have, the better. Professional editing is expensive but if you don’t know anyone who is literary knowledgeable, it could be a needed investment. There is nothing worse than an error-riddled book.

Marketing is a job in itself. Make sure to create a website, build a blog platform, and be aggressive with your social media. Once you’ve branded your novel and discovered a target audience, cater to them. Goodreads giveaways are a great way to generate buzz. Also, don’t be afraid to invest money in your promotions. Almost all of my book revenue has been invested in promotional products. Another way to market yourself is through writing workshops, blog tours, and speaking opportunities. You don’t need a publicist. Emails and research have the same effect.

Cover-designing is one of my favorite aspects of the self-publishing process. Unlike tradition publishing, self-publishing allows you to choose and create your book’s cover. There are many design companies that offer this service, but I decided to be independent and finance savvy. I hired my photographers, models, graphic designers, and located the shoots’ sets. I also worked as a makeup artist and designed my characters’ wardrobes. Lots to do. So much fun. I recommend this route!

Because of self-publishing, I’ve learned so much about the industry, become a business woman, and a developed author. I support this process one-hundred-percent.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Sincerely,

Caroline George

 
Click the link to watch a Q&A with author Tessa Emily Hall and me. We discuss traditional and self-publishing.

Here are several pictures that capture the self-publishing process:

Writing Can Be Such a Pitch!

Remember when I said being an author was hard?

Yeah, I was right.

Today has been especially difficult. I’ve been working on my latest book’s pitch and query because in nineteen days, I’ll be on a plane to New York City. In twenty-three days, I will meeting with agents.

No pressure.

What made today difficult wasn’t that I had a TON of work to do; it was that I didn’t know how to do my work. I spent most of the day researching, listening to webinars, and deleting sentences. It’s funny, really. A few months ago, when I registered for the conference, I thought the preparations would be a breeze because, let’s face it, I’m a genius. Nope. Not true. I find my conceited expectations brutally, humiliatingly hilarious.

If you remember one thing from my blog post today, remember this: it is better to expect and prepare for difficult and be pleasantly surprised when things are easy.

Between the pitch and query, writing the query has been the most enjoyable. I wrote two options today, each with a different angle. One is professional. The other is risky and as Sara Megibow would say, “Sparkly.” Click the links, read the template queries, and let me know which format you like best. PROFESSIONAL or SPARKLY?

 

Remember when I said being an author was lonely?

Yeah, I was right about that too.

God has placed many wonderful people in my life who support and love me in spite of my eccentric, overly-driven behavior. But even though I have them rooting for me, I am pursing this career on my own. They can offer their opinions, but the decision to listen is mine. Besides, not all of them can offer sound advice regarding the publishing industry or understand my mentality.

Writers are athletes without coaches.

Authors are athletes with too many coaches.

 

Have you ever wondered who made the cover of your favorite book? Who inspired and mentored your favorite author while he/she pursued his/her dream?

There are several men and women who have made my writing career possible. I’d like to take a moment and introduce you to some of them.

Mrs. Capers was my Literature teacher throughout middle and high school, and is now my mentor. In eighth grade, I dumped two, full-length fan-fiction novels onto her desk. She encouraged me to write an original novel, edited and critiqued my work, gave me the freedom to find my own literary voice, and is now helping me prepare for my upcoming conference. She’s been with me every step of my writing journey.

 

Britleigh and Bradley were the first Cora and Kyle. Bradley attended a nearby high school—I didn’t meet him until he arrived at the cover-shoot. I’ve known Britleigh since I was a toddler. She is an incredible, strong person who has supported me throughout my writing journey.

Kati was my second Cora. Due to her gymnastics background, she had the physical built I wanted for the second book’s cover. I loved working with her. She perfectly embodied Cora's character and let me wrap her in bandages and smear her with dirt.

 

 

Tessa Emily Hall has been my best friend for almost a year now. She is a brilliant author and editor with a heart for young writers and serving the Lord. We met when we reviewed each other’s first book and a few months later, we started to plan a book-tour. Tessa immediately adopted me into her life and has taught me so much about the publishing industry. Together, we’ve spoken at libraries, homeschool groups, and coffeehouses.

Favoron Productions created the cover of my latest book. They’re a spectacular startup company with talented photographers, filmmakers, and producers. I’m excited to see where God takes them.

Maribeth and Cole are professional models who posed as my main characters, Julie and Jack. I met Cole in my college psychology class and knew immediately that he had to be the face of Jack. I found Maribeth on his Instagram—she looks like Julie. Both are incredibly talented and professional with bright careers ahead of them. I hope to use their skills again in the future.

 

My Mom has been my most-dedicated supporter, reader, and confidant. Even though we occasionally bicker, she will always be the person I credit with my writing success.