Get To Know Me!

Notice: The original Auggie-Talk Blog (linked to the right) is currently down. I will be using this blog temporarily until the issues with Auggie-Talk can be addressed, hopefully by the end of the week. Thank you for visiting and I hope you'll stop by Auggie-Talk when we're back up and running!  Cheers! (June 29, 2017).

 #PitchWars Bio

Hello All!  It's a great pleasure to have the opportunity to meet so many writers in the twitosphere. Though I've been on Twitter for years as a Book Blogger, I never knew there was a such a vibrant writing community. I'm ecstatic to be joining the other #PitchWars hopefuls this year and I look forward to making everyone's acquaintance. *formal bow, tip of the hat, sip of tea, hands out cookies*

About Me

 

My name is Audra, but around and about the internet I'm known as Auggie (family nickname).

I'm acutely horrible at talking about myself (if I'm not also talking about books), and I use parentheses at a nauseating frequency (see here and above).

Fun Facts:

I've been running Auggie-Talk Book Blog for 5 years and have read so many wonderful books and met so many wonderful readers.

I have my Masters in Library Science with a focus in Children's Literature. I have worked as a Youth Librarian, a Research and Reference Instructor at a University, an ESL instructor, and a Children's book specialist at a bookstore (not in that order).

I have my Bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a minor in Japanese. I also studied French, Latin, and Ancient Greek. *shakes fist at declensions*

I'm a new mum to a beautiful 9 month old boy.  It's thrilling introducing (read: indoctrinating) him to the world of books. Currently he just pets them and noms on the pages, but who doesn't?

I am a Studio Ghibli nut.

About Books

  

My favorite genre to read is Fantasy - Particularly MG. The world of MG writing allows for so much more whimsy and that's the sort of thing I gobble. I also love spooky tales. In the YA genre I lean towards fairytale retellings, ghost stories, steampunk, and historical fiction. Outside of my beloved MG and YA I'm all about those cozy mysteries, because I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, MARGARET and that's half the fun.

My favorite author is Diana Wynne Jones. My soul sings when I read her books, and even when adult life is crowding out the magic (fixing a busted garage door is hardly magical), DWJ can bring it back for me. My favorite LIVING author is Neil Gaiman. His works do a similar thing, but with a great heaping side of macabre (of varying amounts depending on the work).

A Few Other Favorites

(Click on the cover to go to a book's Goodreads page!)

       

About Writing

I've always known I was going to write. Growing up, becoming an author was my biggest dream (aside from traveling the world, learning to play bagpipes, and living in a remote/magical village in the Irish countryside) but writing for pleasure took a backseat because of college, grad school, work. There was always something. Then, tragedy struck my family. Life came into sharp, uncomfortable focus and I began concentrating seriously on my writing. There is no guarantee that you will ever have the opportunity in the future to do the things you love. Do them now.

My Manuscript: 

The Peculiar Predicament of Penelope Pendragon

A magical Middle Grade Fantasy with a strong focus on overcoming Fear, trusting yourself, and believing in the impossible.

CORALINE x THIEF OF ALWAYS-A peculiar orphan, a magical book, and an illegal hallway between worlds inhabited by Fear himself.#SFFpit #MG #FA

— Auggie (@Odrah) June 22, 2017

Why Work With Me?

If my #Pitchwars MS/Query speaks to you this August and you're thinking about working with me here's some info - I'd like to think I'm a bit on the fun side, but I'm also super focused. I completed my MLIS in two years instead of the suggested four, which I hope attests to the fact that I'm able to handle fast and hard deadlines as well as the stress that comes with them. 

I will communicate with you. I will have fun with you. And I'll work hard to make the experience enjoyable and rewarding for us both!

Connect

Connect with me! If you have a passion for books and writing then I want to know you!  

Auggie is the 30 year old whirlwind owner of Auggie-Talk. A bibliobibuli by nature and a (potentially obsessive) lover of Diana Wynne Jones and Neil Gaiman. Not so secrety secret: She's been known to consume too much caffeine leading to hyperactive rants about her heinous lack of shelving.