tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post7976115301126332614..comments2024-03-28T08:14:28.881-04:00Comments on Authoress: (35) MG Contemporary: Harold - The Kid Who Ruined My Life and Saved the DayAuthoresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-62487638113555220822012-12-04T11:42:21.645-05:002012-12-04T11:42:21.645-05:00I will not pretend that stealing this out from und...I will not pretend that stealing this out from under you, Sarah, does not *significantly* sweeten the already lovely victory for me! Lauren MacLeod (Strothman Agency)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-35021703081886733202012-12-04T11:39:35.427-05:002012-12-04T11:39:35.427-05:00Oh, Lauren. I shake my holiday candy bowl in your ...Oh, Lauren. I shake my holiday candy bowl in your direction.Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literarynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-67896874766223017472012-12-04T11:30:43.702-05:002012-12-04T11:30:43.702-05:00OH WHAT THE EFF! I leave for 5 seconds cause I nee...OH WHAT THE EFF! I leave for 5 seconds cause I need WATER and this goes out from under me. No. NOT ACCEPTABLE, MARINI. I need to get my head in the game! Victoria Marininoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-57163957900805190742012-12-04T11:30:08.820-05:002012-12-04T11:30:08.820-05:00Ugh. I hope the author knows you only wanted this ...Ugh. I hope the author knows you only wanted this out of spite! (It's true, author... totally 100% true.)Sarah LaPollahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14266812619209867411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-50772694030702762252012-12-04T11:29:13.715-05:002012-12-04T11:29:13.715-05:00Drat you, internet! Congrats, Lauren!Drat you, internet! Congrats, Lauren!Melissa Jeglinskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-70664111922772089242012-12-04T11:28:42.700-05:002012-12-04T11:28:42.700-05:00HOW DOES IT FEEL, LAPOLLA!?!HOW DOES IT FEEL, LAPOLLA!?!Lauren MacLeod (Strothman Agency)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-22488593060942083862012-12-04T11:28:11.108-05:002012-12-04T11:28:11.108-05:00120 pages120 pagesMelissa Jeglinskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-32882879871762602552012-12-04T11:27:32.167-05:002012-12-04T11:27:32.167-05:00full.full.Lauren MacLeod (Strothman Agency)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-30871846076283412772012-12-04T11:27:24.378-05:002012-12-04T11:27:24.378-05:00150 pages.150 pages.Lauren MacLeod (Strothman Agency)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-12552822234327265122012-12-04T11:25:26.254-05:002012-12-04T11:25:26.254-05:00100 pages!100 pages!Sarah LaPollahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14266812619209867411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-11166761096511676072012-12-04T11:22:43.478-05:002012-12-04T11:22:43.478-05:00sorry Melissa, I'll go 75sorry Melissa, I'll go 75 Victoria Marininoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-27908865188753029502012-12-04T11:16:52.058-05:002012-12-04T11:16:52.058-05:00I'll go 50I'll go 50 Victoria Marininoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-52163711393261907142012-12-04T11:16:47.931-05:002012-12-04T11:16:47.931-05:0050 pages50 pagesMelissa Jeglinskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-68556061544431574952012-12-04T11:14:01.518-05:002012-12-04T11:14:01.518-05:00Wait! Typo! I meant 25! Gah! Wait! Typo! I meant 25! Gah! Sarah LaPollahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14266812619209867411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-47881197288440037402012-12-04T11:10:52.893-05:002012-12-04T11:10:52.893-05:0015 pages!15 pages!Sarah LaPollahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14266812619209867411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-73878200148139474102012-12-04T11:01:47.789-05:002012-12-04T11:01:47.789-05:00I'd like to request the first five pages.I'd like to request the first five pages. Melissa Jeglinskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-17030009951781012792012-12-03T21:20:25.622-05:002012-12-03T21:20:25.622-05:00I'm not reading previous comments, so if anyth...I'm not reading previous comments, so if anything I say is redundant, I apologize.<br /><br />Kids like Harold are my heroes. Truly. I know a whole bunch of kids with Aspergers, and see how they struggle with social cues and are often ridiculed or shunned. Yet they also have wonderful spirits. So it's going to be great that Harold eventually saves the day, and in the process teaches Jake some great lessons.<br /><br />Jake's desire to differentiate himself from Harold is wholly believable. I figure we're in for a good story here.<br /><br />Reads smoothly; no head-scratching on my part. Good luck tomorrow.Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-62449948989576599792012-12-03T10:46:30.129-05:002012-12-03T10:46:30.129-05:00I got so excited I signed in under the wrong accou...I got so excited I signed in under the wrong account. Myra McEntirehttp://myramcentire.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-73412121469177607222012-12-03T10:45:41.524-05:002012-12-03T10:45:41.524-05:00This is like a no no*. You don't talk about it...This is like a no no*. You don't talk about it until the last pitch is thrown. <br /><br />AMAZING. Someone is going to jump on this puppy, and fast.<br /><br />(For the non-baseball folk out there, a no no is a no hitter. Major superstition to acknowledge one during a game.)<br />Myra McEntirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02489075264670333000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-81885704742197211232012-12-03T09:26:28.368-05:002012-12-03T09:26:28.368-05:00I'm a little late to the party, but wanted to ...I'm a little late to the party, but wanted to add my kudos and best wishes. The characters ring with authenticity, and the writing is excellent. As others have mentioned, watch that Jake remains sympathetic. We can relate to him wanting to ditch Harold, as long as he learns to appreciate, value, and include him by the end.Sarah Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11202671048418865629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-11185182937977920562012-12-02T13:26:58.715-05:002012-12-02T13:26:58.715-05:00Your character voice sings! From the start, I know...Your character voice sings! From the start, I know who Jake is. I know who Harold is. And you’ve introduced tension between them. Fantastically handled.<br /><br />This is one of those premises that’s going to be a bit tricky. Some people will rush to it and gush all over it. Some people will be uncomfortable. I think it’s fine – even important – to make the reader unsettled. It means they have to think beyond the book, so don’t fear that. Still, you’ll have to be careful about treading that line between honesty and meanness with how you handle Jake, because it will be a thin line.<br /><br />I suggest you take another look at the final sentence of this sample. It’s a little clunky. I think what’s missing in this thought is the sense that Jake is trying to take control of the situation, preventing Harold from the monologue. A minor quibble in a strong start. <br /><br />I’m not sure that this would be quite the project for me to personally take on, but I’m confident that you’ll find your fans.Alison Weissnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-1911259416255797842012-12-01T21:45:51.921-05:002012-12-01T21:45:51.921-05:00I'm not ready to think that Jake isn't a s...I'm not ready to think that Jake isn't a sympathetic MC. He's a kid -- and I can see a kid being annoyed with Harold. In some ways, he's treated him like anyone else who might annoy him. And the author's voice is just so spot on. I just love the first line of the logline. I'm hoping you get some agent interest on Tuesday.Durango Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14854000354374970070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-7790730942470284772012-12-01T21:21:10.558-05:002012-12-01T21:21:10.558-05:00I like this a lot. Great, distinct voices for each...I like this a lot. Great, distinct voices for each character. I think there are a great many kids who would be able to relate to one of these characters or the other. I have to disagree that the kids who identify with Harold would feel bad. I have a feeling we're all going to love Harold before we get too far into the book and besides, we already know he's going to save the day.<br /><br />This is a very strong entry. Good luck with the auction!TFreenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-22261341868676772912012-12-01T16:18:00.450-05:002012-12-01T16:18:00.450-05:00The writing is really strong here. I'm slightl...The writing is really strong here. I'm slightly worried that Jake might end up as an unsympathetic MC, but I'm assuming (from the title) that he finds some redeeming qualities in Harold eventually. I don't read a ton of MG, but I would be interesting in seeing where this one goes!Helenehttp://www.twitter.com/helene_dunbarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-76928864286792598132012-11-30T23:05:18.442-05:002012-11-30T23:05:18.442-05:00YAY! I'm so happy to see this entry (I actuall...YAY! I'm so happy to see this entry (I actually voted for it to go through to the agent round during the GUTGAA event a few months back)! I loved it then, and I love it now. Everything about this entry just pulls me in--the voice, the setting, the characterization . . . Mwah! Fantastico! ;)<br /><br />I think I told you back then what a great job you did with Harold. As an aunt to a child with Asperger's, I can tell you that obsession with time is a CLASSIC symptom (actually, obession over anything). Well done!<br /><br />Wishing you the best of luck!Angela V. Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15065559147381012802noreply@blogger.com