Fourth? Fifth? Whatever - here I am!

Hi, I'm Jason. I'm a middle school language arts teacher looking to start a career as a YA/MG writer. I'm 32 years old, have my BA in theater arts and journalism, my Masters in English education. I have three novels under my belt -- one I've been querying for a while (one request for a full and a rejection but no other bites), one I need to do some revising/editing on, and another I'm just starting the query process for (and already got a request for a full!).

Let's see, besides writing, I'm a huge theater/movie/tv geek, I love board games and poker....I love my wife....ummmm...oh, and Disney. I love Disney.

So that's a little about me!

Welcome Jason, I heart Disney too!

Welcome Jason,

Having written three full novels is a great accomplishment. Having gotten two requests for a full is even greater! I'm impressed.

My own novel is going through revisions after I queried a lot of agents. I found out after WriteOnCon that it was by no means ready for querying. The query synopsis also sucked, and the word count was way too high for a YA debut (110,000). The word count thing alone might have been an auto-reject for some agents.

Anyway, I'm very optimistic about my own future in getting published, and I can tell that you're optimistic about yours. That's the only way to be, no matter if you get a lot of rejections. If you don't believe in your work, then you can't expect agents/publishers to

See you around!

Tessa

Tessa,
I am optimistic - for three reasons. 1)I genuinely think I'm good enough (no40t bragging, just think I am), 2)I want it so badly that to not think it is almost impossible, 3)I've had some bites so think I just need the right agent.

My first novel is long also - it's 100,000 words. One of the reasons I switched to querying my third novel is it's more reasonable in length (40,000) and I think more marketable right away. My hope is to flip back to that first book once I have one under my belt.

Here's hoping...for both of us!

I think that's the most important - the believe that you are good enough. And of course it's not bragging!

And yay, fellow theatre geek! Straight plays or musicals too?

Oh, mostly musicals, though any and all theater works for me.

I have a huge huge huge collection of cast albums. And this IS bragging - it's one of the biggest I know of. I collect anything and everything musical.

My favorites are, of course, anything by Sondheim, but there are so many great shows....

Any favorite Sondheims? I think mine would be Company (especially when sung by John Barrowman) and Into the Woods. And possibly The Frogs for the single best introductory song in musical history

I usually have different favorite musicals at any given time. Among my current favorites are Edges, Stiles and Drewe's Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Little Women and Fairy Tales *lol*

My wife and I LOVE John Barrowman. He's got one of the best voices out there!

My overall favorite Sondheim is Sweeney Todd (the movie was good, but nothing compared to the original cast!). I use Into the Woods during my fairy tales unit with my students - another huge favorite. The only show of his I DON'T like is the newest one - Road Show. I just think the score is very lacking, no matter how hard I try I can't get into it. I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite song, though I'd say my favorite score other than the ones above is Follies. Or Sunday. So hard to pick. We got to go to the 80th birthday concert in Lincoln Center back in March and it was one of the greatest nights I've ever experienced. It ended with some 200 people filling the theater and singing "Sunday" -- absolutely beautiful. They'll be showing the concert on PBS in the fall -- can't wait to see it again!

I'd be hard pressed to argue Introduction and Invocations as the best introductory song, but Comedy Tonight and Wilkommen come very close.

I have to admit, I don't know Fairy Tales...who's that by?

The Stiles and Drewe Peter Pan is good, but I'm always going to be biased towards the original Charlap/Styne one. I just rewatched the Cathy Rigby recording of it actually and reminded myself how great it is (though that version cut a couple of songs). I'm trying to find a recording of that particular cast because the Distant Melody on that is so great. There's a London recording, not sure who it's by, that has Ron Moody as Hook that's also very good..

We just saw a production of Cabaret last night -- love that show as well, though it's interesting seeing it because there are so many different versions.

Ace! Me too! And he's not just a great singer, he is such a lovely guy too! One day I will find a TARDIS and go back in time to see him in La Cage again. That entire day is still one of my best theatre experiences ever. (Alongside David Tennant's Hamlet.)

Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett! Oh I do agree! And not original cast, but I would just about kill to have seen Neil Patrick Harris as Tobias.

I've not got a chance to listen to Road Show yet, but it doesn't appeal to me either. Somehow I always tend to be a bit nervous about new shows. The last new show I saw was... erm...

Well, it was Love Never Dies in London. And I was quite capable of doing a lot of very nasty things to the writers after that. The plot was so non-existent it left a black hole in the theatre. But I do admit, some of the songs were beautiful. And the cast - and Sierra Boggess as Christine Daaé - were simply wonderful.

That does sound beautiful, what a wonderful experience!

Agreed! And A Funny Thing Happened... is a great show too.

Eric Lane Barnes

The Cathy Rigby one is a classic of course! But I have very fond memories of the Stiles and Drewe version so I will always be biased towards it. I guess that's the thing when you know people in the business and you see them in particular shows. It will always be special.

I've yet to see Cabaret! There have been a few productions around here, but like you say, there seem to be so many different versions! I've yet to found the *right* one.

Hm, perhaps we should continue this in the common room! It would appear we're straying off topic a bit

Hi Jason, nice to meet you.

Well done on your query request - it's such a good feeling isn't it And good on you for completing three books! Make sure you keep us posted on how you are going

Talk soon,

Rach

Wow, 3 novels already under your belt, good for you! Congrats on the requests, how exciting
So it looks like you have some company in the theater fan club;-) I have to admit I have never seen a play or heard of any of the above mentioned people I feel so uncultured Lol!

Marieke - I'll pm you to continue our theater chat

Thanks for the good wishes everyone on the books. I'm HOPING one of these fulls pans out into something (obviously!). The whole thing make me very nervous, but I'm excited about the potential!

Hi Jason,

Love Disney and LOVE Musicals, JB, etc... I was there with Marieke for both Hamlet and John Barrowman in La Cage.

projectfraeya wrote:

Hi Jason,

Love Disney and LOVE Musicals, JB, etc... I was there with Marieke for both Hamlet and John Barrowman in La Cage.

Hi - seems like we'd all get along great!

Hello Jason!

Apologies for the late reply, had to kick a few bugs out of the system but here's to hoping there's smooth sailing from here on out.

Looks like you've already found a few kindred spirits, and that is fantastic! I hope you enjoys your time here, and I'm glad you could join us.