“Things Every Southern Woman Should Know How to Make”

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Alice clicked on the headline, mildly curious about what yet another stranger thought should be in her kitchen repertoire. Pictures of China plates mounded with crispy fried chicken, greens, cobbler, and a pile of biscuits a mile high flooded the screen, all set off with a pitcher of sweet tea beaded with condensation. The table was set; an apron draped off to the side next to a box labeled “Gramma’s Recipes” in fine calligraphy. She closed the browser and put away her tablet. She was born a Georgia peach, but she couldn’t make a cobbler to save her life. Did that mean she wasn’t southern? Or maybe just not “Southern.” For Alice, there was no recipe box full of family traditions. Her younger years were filled with rental homes in different states and her father’s voice coaxing her toward a text book rather than a cookbook. Metalworking and fabrication held more interest than learning to flambé or sauté. Did it make her less of a woman that her cooking skills consisted of fresh salads
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I've Got News, and It's Pretty Sweet


If I was a GIF-savvy person, this post would explode with them. I’m not, however, so I’m just going to squeal in plain ol’ type.

Last week, I got to share some exciting news, and now I’m going to post it here.


Ready?


*squirms*
 

I’ve signed with Spencer Hill Press to publish my debut YA paranormal, LEAD ME BACK HOME.

Here’s the short version of how it came to pass.

I queried during Spencer Hill Press’s open submissions window in December. They requested the full manuscript shortly after.

Then waiting.

A nudge, a reply, and more waiting, until I received an email from Kate Kaynak that contained the following words:

OFFER OF PUBLICATION.

There was lots of flailing. Deep breaths. A yes. And here we are.

I’ll post updates—and maybe a cooler version of this story—as we go along. For now, I’m still letting it sink in that next year I’ll be holding my book in my hands.

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