Back in 2000, as an NYU student taking a short story class, I started a story based on some prank calls my roommate received where the caller would say, “She used to call me sissy.” It was the opening line of a short story that evolved into 20 pages and then turned itself into a novel.
Sissy got a radio reading produced by Lizzie Simon on Columbia University’s radio station. It was semi-finalist for Delacorte’s Young Adult Novel contest back in 2001. The manuscript ultimately didn’t find a home.
Fast-forward to 2009, literary agent Michelle Andleman is interested in reading my draft of Sissy, YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME (new title) and she signs me on my 30th birthday. YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME ultimately didn’t get bought by a publisher, but it connected me to a great agent.
I’ve always loved young adult novels (Sweet Valley High is a huge part of my teen years) but have been amazed by how many great YA novels are out there. Stories that never emerged back in the Sweet Valley High days. I’m so excited to be part of such a vibrant literary community.
I’m currently working on a young adult series. Stay tuned!
