About Ms. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes...
Del oneechan bought for me her first book, In the Forests of the Night, and I read it.

Naturally, when I first saw this girl's books in the store and then read about how young she was I was floored... I mean, what does that say for me? But anyway, I read the book.. it was very short. o.o; It took about forty five minutes for me to read, and here's what I have to say. She has a good style. It's definitely what the reviews call polished, and I think polishing is something I lack entirely. But, that said..I didn't really like the book. I don't know why. x__x; It just didn't strike me as anything memorable. Maybe because I've just read one too many vampire books. :B; But anyway, the girl is a good writer and she did deserve publishment... but hey, that's how it is. I mean, have any of you guys out there ever made an effort to finish and publish something? I know I haven't, not yet. She obviously made the effort, by showing her finished story to her English teacher and then working to get it out there. And that's what you've got to do. You've got to finish what you write and then you've got to sell it to somebody, or, if you have the resources, publish it yourself.

Don't let the numbers discourage you. If we all listened to the stats about successful writers, we'd all just give up and quit, and that wouldn't do anything for anyone. Just keep trying. That's what I'm going to do--just keep trying until someone gets SO ANNOYED with me that they publish me to get me to go away. XD Ambition, friends! We can do it! :D :D :D I look forward to seeing the books of everyone I know on the shelves in the future. :B