Sold!!!

I can finally put that in my subject line! Yay! This is the announcement that was in Publisher's Marketplace today:

CHILDREN'S/YOUNG ADULT

Cynthia Jaynes Omololu's DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, in which the garbage-filled world of a 16 year-old girl comes crashing down around her even as she gets her first glimpse of what it might be like to be "normal" rather than living cloaked in the secret shame of her mom's out-of-control hoarding to Mary Kate Castellani at Walker, by Erin Murphy of Erin Murphy Literary Agency (world).

From the minute I got the idea for this book, I loved it. Erin felt the same and never stopped cheering for me, even when I wallowed in angst. I had so much great help from the folks at the Children of Hoarders forum - special shout out to Donna Austin, my wonderful critique partners who gave their all in emergency critiquing and from my fabulous friends and family who never thought I was a joke. You guys rock!

Mary Kate is going to be a wonderful editor, and I can't wait to get started. She ran with the book right from the start, and it's so great to have someone so excited in your corner. So many of the editors who saw the book had such nice things to say that it just goes to show what a great group of people kidlit editors are. I wish I could have worked with all of them.

I have to go toast this news with a strong cup of coffee and get on with my day. Celebrating with champagne and caviar, you might wonder? Nope. Yard duty and soccer practice. Some things never change.

On this date: In 1957, West Side Story opens.