On the Wall

Today, I had one of those so-happy-you-cry moments.

I saw my first graphic novel on Amazon.

It's always exciting to see a new cover, or to get to announce a new book, although that doesn't usually drive me to tears. This time, though, it's different. Although this will be my 10th-ish published book, depending on how you count, it was actually my first real book. The first one I wrote. The one that got me an agent and then failed to sell.

I wrote it in 2007 and signed with Agent Kate in 2008. The manuscript went to acquisitions over 10 times, I think. It kept coming so close and then falling apart at the last minute. Eventually, we shelved it in favor of what would become Bad Taste in Boys. That sold quickly, and of course I was glad, but I never forgot that first manuscript. I'd started writing it during my maternity leave with my twins, after midnight feedings while I was waiting for them to go back to sleep. I loved that book for a billion reasons. Because it was funny when I needed to laugh. Because it was about strong girls, and I'd just had two of them. Because it was the first manuscript I wrote that made me think maybe I could really do this writing thing.

In my free time, I started turning it into a graphic novel script just for fun, and because I couldn't keep from messing with that story. I mentioned it to Agent Kate in a self-deprecating, isn't-this-a-funny-thing kind of way. She turned around and sold it, to my surprise and delight.

It will hit the shelves in June. I describe the book as GHOST WORLD meets superheroes, which I personally think is awesome except that I'm biased so it probably doesn't count.

I have had the good fortune to make a few of these announcements, but this one takes the proverbial cake. I'm so thrilled and lucky and grateful to be able to share this story with you. It has baby pools and accidental forkings and girl power and peeping toms and government agents and scary teachers modeled after my old high school English teacher, who was the first person to tell me that I should be a writer. I thought the best thing I could do to thank her was put a character inspired by her in a book, so I did. She WAS pretty scary.

It comes out in June, and it's available for pre-order, if you happen to like that kind of thing. I'll post more order links as they come out, too.

It's called ON THE WALL, and I really hope you like it.