Look at that! It’s been three weeks since I’ve posted. Oh the shame. Rather than allow you to believe I’ve just been sitting around eating bon-bons (ahem.) let me catch you up to speed on what’s gone down in Casa Dempsey over the past three.
1. We are actually back in our home in Brazil after being away for almost a year. We had a great number of bags to unpack and an entire house to organize. Bags unpacked, check. House organized? Moving on . . .
2. I have written several thousand words on my WIP since our return. I have an August 1st deadline to show something to my agent, but um, I’m getting sort of shy about showing it to her. I’ll be finished by then, I’m positive, with the first draft. But it is a messy draft. There are gaps and threads that I just dropped. And it’s not the book she thought I was writing. (Or at least it doesn’t need to be once I start revising this draft.) So I’m wondering if I need to do a revision before she sees anything. You know, a book only gets one chance to make a first impression.
3. EXCITING NEWS!!!!!! Did I get your attention? I am so excited to announce that I have accepted a job as the librarian at The American School of Belo Horizonte, an International Baccalaureate Pre-K through 12th grade school. You are hereby invited to visit! And be sure to point me toward books that I need to include in our collection. I have lots of planning, preparing, organizing and development work ahead of me. I will be surrounded by books! I will be surrounded by children and teenagers! I have a feeling I’m going to love it.
Kristy Dempsey 
1, Yay!
2. Yay! Follow your heart. And you sound like me.
3. Yay! Except that our leisurely phone calls that weren’t possible when you were in the States now won’t be possible when you’re in Brazil. Maybe that was your plan all along . . .
1. Wow, almost a year!
2. Yep. I have an agent seriously interested in Novel 1, but she wants to see Novel 2 first … and I’m scared to death 2 will sink 1 … and yeah … that first impression thing …
3. Wow! That is exciting … and sounds like a lot of fun!!! Congratulations.
4. I wouldn’t have numbered, but AM numbered, so I numbered.
Oh first impressions. I’m not sure I’ll end up having a good one anyway but I supposed I should make it as good as I can.
I do sound like you. I have learned well.
And no, it wasn’t my plan all along. My plan is to still somehow find time to talk.
5. Kay added another one, so I get to, also.
I’m sad you’re so far away again, but I know it makes you happy, so yay. Congrats on the great WIP progress and on the job. It sounds perfect.
Why don’t you come visit?!
Just out of curiosity, is your salary based on your status as an expat teacher or, since you live there anyway, as a local? When we were living in Venezuela, a teacher received the expat pay scale only if s/he were recruited as an expat; if the spouse was employed in country and s/he were living there already, s/he was on the resident pay scale — huge difference in salary and benefits.
I’m pretty sure, based on what I’m making, that it’s resident pay scale. Yes, big difference in salary/benefits but it works for us right now.
The important thing is that you enjoy the job. I think you will be great!
Congrats on the new job – it sounds wonderful!
As for the draft, I agree with AM – follow your heart. 🙂
My heart says, “FINISH THIS THING so you can revise!”
Congrats on the job!
Thanks! I’m looking forward to it. My mind has been swirling today thinking about organizing and bulletin boards.
That is so wonderful about the new job, congrats!
Thanks! I think I’m really going to love it.
Congrats on the librarian job! Sounds dreamy!
I’d get the manuscript in better shape before I showed my agent, but that’s just me.
Yeah, I think I’m like you.
-2 I am centering myself to reply to your post. Adding extra has nothing to do with AM.
-1 Or Kay.
1– YAY because it sounds like it makes you happy.
2– I would revise some. Is the deadline a real deadline? Will she be disappointed if you take another week or so?
3– Congrats! That sounds perfect for you!
Yes, I’m going to revise. I have to.
Congratulations on the new job! It is great to be surrounded by books and kids.
I’m so excited!
Wow, your job sounds wonderful — yay!!! 🙂
I’m hopeful it will turn out to be a wonderful thing, even for my writing.
Congrats!
Congratulations on your new job AND on your WIP progress. Since it’s different than what she’s expecting, maybe one round of revision would be good before sending it off to her?