An agent is going to GOOGLE ME?!

The more I research and learn about publishing and writing, the less (it feels like) I know. I just found out from thewritelife.com that agents I query will probably Google me. So, being naturally curious, I Googled myself. Zero guesses what I found . . .

I wish I could say I was surprised that Googling "Amanda Sutliff" had no results for me, and more results for other people who happen to share my name. Even more frightening, when I Googled AC Sutliff (which is my planned pen name - don't hold it against me that I was pretentious enough to give myself a pen name) the fourth result was for a bootlegged copy of the PDF of my second self-published book.

~Sigh~ Obviously this blog needs some attention!

I wonder what would be the best way to start changing my Google results so the top result is this blog. But beyond that, what I am really wondering about is WHAT I should write about on here in the first place. If someone is actually going to be Googling me (and I hope they do even if it terrifies me!) I want them to see that I am not narcissistic, contrary to what this blog post might suggest, and that I am in fact using a blog for a creative purpose. And a useful one.

I hate nonfiction. When my students and I arrive at the nonfiction writing and reading units in January (which happens to be my birthday month) I always wind up feeling a lack of motivation. Nonfiction sucks the life out of me. So even though it makes sense for a writer to write a blog about the process of getting published, or the process of writing a novel, I have to admit that I couldn't force myself to do that unless the fiction gods decided to scorn me for writing this post by locking my creativity in Time Pocket. Of course, if that does happen, I know I can always ask Theo to get it back for me.

Now, onto the real purpose of this darn blog. To introduce my real blogging plan: I want to write short stories. Creative closet novels based in the fantasy worlds I have been brewing for the past year (both the historical fantasy world Yang and the epic fantasy world Yin). I want to see where this takes me (and you too, hopefully). Who knows? We might end up meeting my next protagonist.

To post or not to post?

I never expected to get writer's block on a blog. I mean, it's blogging! Just write what you're thinking, right? What's so hard about that? The problem is that I don't have anything poignant to say. It's just me and my normal self-doubts. Even now, all I'm thinking is that I should push the backspace button and start this blog post over for the fifth time.

If you're still there, then you can breathe a sigh of relief. I've finally decided to get to the point of this blog post. For the past five years, I've been writing a book. Now, when I'm the busiest I've been in YEARS, I've finally decided to take the plunge and go after my dream of publication. I wrote a query letter* for my current project. Then I wrote another one. And another. And, a whole week later, I did what I was told, and I reread my best letter and tweaked it. I think it's ready.

So here's the kicker: I've got cold feet. I was thinking of heading over to hubpages and posting my query letter for review, or maybe even sending it to Query Shark, but instead, I'm here on Blogger (where I happen to know there are not many people coming around to judge me). Since this is my first post, I won't be surprised if no one comes by to read my query letter, but I've decided that this is as good a place as any to reveal it to the world. If you're there, be brutal. I'd appreciate it. Here it is:

The First Alchemist fragmented the world, or so the legend says. He created the Trinitas to hold the world together. For centuries, the Code Breaker, Code Giver, and the Keeper of the Code have led the three great factions of Alchemists. Always in secret, they have waged many wars over this broken world.

These battles have grown to a global scale, and now it seems the very world has joined the fight. Only the Keeper of the Code knows how to save the world. But he has placed his faith in the hands of a boy.

Theo Presten’s thirteenth birthday is finally here, and all he wants is a new notebook and pen, a chemistry set, and the complete box set of Harry Potter novels.

Instead, he receives a visit from an aunt he’s never met before, the pet chimera he never knew he always wanted, and a one-way ticket to Norway to attend Blackthorn and Burtree, Secret School of Alchemy.

The Keeper of the Code is the first installment of the Code Chronicles, a coming of age trilogy about learning to find your own path in life and trusting in yourself, despite what others tell you.  The novel is complete at just over 100,000 words.

Sincerely,

AC Sutliff

*I did write a query letter, but I decided to post the jacket synopsis for the book instead. The query gives away too much!