Oh that's so nice to hear. I'm so freaked by fiction. And by writing for kids. And by hopefulness.

If I recall correctly, you were rather freaked by writing your personal experience and opinion, that nobody would be interested or would want to read it, before you submitted Vampire People, correct?

This is your process. It's okay. Just keep going. You will always have an audience eager to read what you write; your voice is unique, whether you're talking about baby bats or beagles.

Feedback from Agent Kate was AWESOME. She loves the voice. She was optimistic. She thinks it's got great shot.

Ya see??

I came away seriously heartened too-- we have a plan of action and for Virgo Girl, nothing so warms the cockles of my little heart than a plan.

She also liked my ideas for a revision to a proposal I'm working on right now, which made me really happy because I think it achieves what we both want.

She likes my ideas and we have a plan. I am Quite Pleased.

Woohoo for Allyson and Barb, and the clearly awesome Agent Kate!

For the polish challenge:

Having him paint her fingernails seemed like an incredible intimacy, even after all their time together. But with her hand in a splint, she didn’t have much choice. He seemed excited by it, too, as if he’d gotten a new coloring book, although he wrinkled his nose at the harsh chemical odor.She had to admit that his artist’s hands were pretty steady, although he still picked his favorite fire-engine red polish, instead of the more conference-friendly buff. “Wow,” she teased, “why so bright? It’s a conference, not Las Vegas.”

“You have beautiful hands,” he insisted. “Why hide them?’

nice, erika

Thanks. I don't really know who these people are; they just popped into my head.

That's gorgeous, erika. Very vivid.

Another nightmare - could not tie it to challenge, and anyway not a drabble. But I think it is worth sharing:

ch-ch-changes

They call it the archetype disease. A virus, and living proof that magic is real, all rolled into one. Whatever is at your core, most important to your self takes over. The town smartass turns into Harlequin, complete with costume and a grin bigger than his face. Forget goldfish; he swallows SUVs. Mind you it is not limited to classic themes. Sue, wit and bon vivant, is now The Flirt. A real man-eater, she killed 15 before they caught her. And 20 after. (She keeps getting out of jail - just slips out of the restraints, and crawls through the keyholes.)

A lot of the time we can't figure out what archetype someone has turned into. But we've learned that if a swirl of light is floating down the street, or a vaguely person-shaped puff of brightly colored smoke is sitting at the bus top, get the hell away from there quickly.

And there is no such thing as a harmless or benign archetype. Rainbow Brite chokes any non-virgin it runs into to death on sugar lumps. Tinker Belle will make you sorry if you have ever, for a single moment, failed to believe in fairies.

What it comes down to is that the archetype disease purifies you, makes you just one thing and nothing else. And it turns out that pure anything is deadly insanity.