Four years ago this weekend (this day, really) I wrote the four thousand word proposal that became Adiós to My Old Life. Two weeks later, it had sold, exactly a year later, on July 4, 2006, it was released.

If you'd told me four years ago that I would be published in YA before adult fiction, I would've probably said, "Shyeah, right." If you would have told me two years ago, (immediately post-RITA, an unthinkable accomplishment in and of itself) that four years after selling my first book, I'd still be waiting to sell in adult fiction, I would've asked where you kept the funny mushrooms.

And of course, if, two years ago, you would have told me that I would have an editor solicit me to write a book, that I would sell into hardcover, and then sixteen months later, it would all be taken away, I would have accused you of being plain mean.

Yet...

*looks back at events of last four years*

All so, so weird.

And yet, this year, I'm essentially free. Perhaps that's the independence I'll be celebrating. Along with continuing my fight to become the writer I want to be.