My SimonPulse Book Deal!!!!

So do you all remember when I blogged about the book that will never be published? The one that I was inspired to write after the survivor testimonial writers' workshop I attended last April. The one that was too short, too dark, too graphic. The one that I HAD to write even though it sliced up parts of my soul to do so. 


And do you remember how all you awesome bloggy people helped me with the query for this and how I got my fantastic agent Sarah LaPolla from this query?

Eighteen-year old Ben Baptiste decides not to go to the party with his girlfriend, Ani. He’s not there when two strangers pour her drinks and brag about the upcoming “ride.” He misses her table dance, her announcement of a plan to hook up with half the guys in the room, and finding her passed out three hours later with no memory of the night.

But when doctors surgically remove a lighter left inside Ani, he's there. When whispers of "Firecrotch" and "Manhole" follow Ani down the school halls, he's there. When Ani begs him to make her forget, but then cries as he whispers, "I love you," he's there. And when his best friend tells him Ani's messing around with other guys, he is there.

Ben doesn't know how to fix Ani. But he is there.  

Well, that awesome agent of mine sent that book out because in her words, "we have to get this into teens' hands." And the absolutely fabulous Anica Mrose Rissi at SimonPulse liked it. Anica Mrose Rissi who edited several of my favorite books of ALL time (INVINCIBLE SUMMER, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE). Yes, I'm dying. It's too amazing. Can you believe how lucky I am? Me neither. 

So this little book of mine, TRAINWRECK, is going to be published by SimonPulse. It is currently slated for release Fall of 2013. And people in the world will get to hear Ben and Ani's story. And then maybe it will make people think a little bit differently about rape. 

I have so much gratitude for all the people who have been with me on this writer's journey. For those who have helped me find my voice. For the other writers whose books make me want to do better. For those who have read my books and given me awesome feedback. For those who have lifted me up when I felt like maybe I couldn't do it. You have to know how much each and every one of you mean to me. 

My hope for this book has always been to use 50% of the proceeds to help create more testimonial writing workshops out of it. (So yes, when it comes out, you MUST buy it because we will all win then). And because of Anica and the people at SimonPulse, we will be able to do another workshop. Maybe lots more workshops. 

So I will leave you with a giant SQUEE of "HOLY CRUD, MY BOOK IS GOING TO BE PUBLISHED" and a video of some of the people who are part of the Voices and Faces Project (you will see me with my little Jojo there.)