This is what I’ve been waiting to share!

NEAR WITCH sold to Hyperion!!!

EDIT: You guys, I’m running out of !!!!! Serious <3.

A few people have asked about NEAR WITCH, so I’m posting a rough pitch here!

There’s an old ghost story in the town of Near. It tells of a witch that lived on the edge of the village, and gobbled up all the darkness, and sang the hills to sleep, and loved the children almost as much as the garden she kept beside her house.

Sixteen-year-old Lexi Harris, the daughter of a tracker, has heard the stories her entire life, first from her father, and then from old Magda and Marta, who might be witches themselves. Everyone loves to tell the story, but everyone knows a different ending. Some say that the Near Witch blew away on a gust of wind. Others tell of darker things. Of murders and curses and buried bones.

To Lexi, they’ve always been stories, nothing more. But when a strange and silent boy walks into the village of Near, and then the wind begins to lure children from their beds at night, she starts to wonder if there’s any truth in them. Could the Near Witch be more than a ghost story?

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103 thoughts on “This is what I’ve been waiting to share!

  1. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    YOUR VOICE IS SHAKING WITH HAPPINESS!!!! Hee!!
    Just as it should be.
    So CYUTE.
    CONGRATS, V. You worked hard. I am extremely proud of you and so happy for you and I can’t freaking wait to read THE NEAR WITCH!!
    !!!!!!!!
    ~*SPARKLEEXPLOSION*~
    ~*c

  3. bracken says:

    Congrats again!! 😀 I’m super impressed you got to share your news so early! I feel like I had to wait a week or two before announcing. This is surely a sign of more awesomeness to come!!

  4. kmessner says:

    Oh yay!!! HUGE Congratulations!! I can’t wait to hear more about your book. (And Abby is delightful and brilliant – I worked with her for a short time before she left Scholastic.) Congratulations!!

  5. mindiscott says:

    YAAAAAAAAAAY! Congrats to you!

  6. carriejones says:

    I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I am happy dancing in my kitchen in your honor (and in honor of the champagne cork).

  7. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations! What a wonderful, heartfelt video. I wish you many, many sales.
    (Followed your post from Blueboards.)

  8. kessie says:

    YES! CONGRATULATIONS!
    *runs around shrieking* I’m so, so happy for you!

  9. patesden says:

    Yay!! !! Congratulations I’m so thrilled for you and I can’t wait to read it.

  10. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I *may* have started clapping & teared up a bit as I watched (okay, so, actually I’m totally happy-crying for you & the Dane thinks I’m crazy).
    So awesome! *hugs*

  11. susanadrian says:

    You know this, but I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU, bb!!
    and I LOVE The Near Witch. Can’t wait for it to come out in print!!!

  12. What a cute vlog!
    CONGRATS ON THE BOOK DEAL!!!
    Hyperion is the bestest.

  13. writerkitty says:

    That was adorable. I am SO happy for you & can’t wait to hear what your book is about.
    And celebrating with cupcakes? That is SO the right way to do it. 🙂

  14. jennifer_d_g says:

    What a lovely video! It made my eyes well up with joy!
    I just congratulated you on the blueboard and thought I’d say it again here. Congratulations!!!!

  15. Yaaaaayyyyy!!!
    Champagne and cupcakes, what an awesome way to celebrate!
    So happy for you – enjoy this exiting time, you worked hard for it!

  16. veschwab says:

    Thank you! In case you can’t tell from the video, I’m a little happy 🙂

  17. veschwab says:

    Bb you are making me tear up a little. NOT COOL!
    Honestly, I ❤ you. You told me. And I would NEVER be here without your love and support and general awesomeness. Your feelings came true!!!!

  18. veschwab says:

    Thanks bb!!!
    I was excited to announce this early too! J was her sharky self and got the negotiations done very quickly! And she gave me the go-ahead this morning 🙂
    Alex, thank you for EVERYTHING. You’ve been such a cheerleader for me the whole way.

  19. veschwab says:

    Thank you Kate!
    I can’t wait to work with her. I’m already head over heels after a phone conference we had a few weeks back 🙂

  20. j_cheney says:

    Congratulations!!!!

  21. veschwab says:

    Aww Carrie you’re going to get me emotional! I’m just really happy, and relieved to be done with subs for now 🙂
    Thank you for sharing my excitement! You should eat a cupcake!

  22. olmue says:

    Yay!! Congratulations!!!

  23. veschwab says:

    Aw, thank you so, so much 🙂

  24. veschwab says:

    Haha aw thank you bb for sharing my excitement 🙂

  25. shanasilver says:

    Congrats! I am so happy for you! This one went really quickly, didn’t it? Didn’t you just finish it!?!? I am super impressed!

  26. veschwab says:

    Thank you so much! I still can’t believe it’s going to be a book, and someone besides my fam/friends/agency will get the chance to read it 🙂

  27. veschwab says:

    Aw Kathleeen, I am trying to not get too worked up and you are making that difficult!!! :)))

  28. veschwab says:

    Thank you my captain of TS!!!
    I’m very excited, and I can’t wait for you to join me 🙂

  29. veschwab says:

    Thank you!!!
    I am IN LOVE with Abby, and Hyperion :)))

  30. tamarak says:

    But…are you happy?
    🙂
    Soooooo thrilled for you!!! YAAAAY!!!!!!

  31. veschwab says:

    Thank you so much!
    I’ll do another post soon with more details, and I’ll include a pitch about NEAR WITCH. I think there’s a rough one floating around under the label NW on my sidebar 🙂
    Cupcakes is ALWAYS the way to celebrate 🙂

  32. veschwab says:

    Thank you Jennifer! It really means a lot to me 🙂

  33. daisywhitney says:

    Yay!
    So very proud of you!! You worked hard, you kept writing and you nailed it!

  34. veschwab says:

    Thank you so much Lisa! I think I’ve run out of Y’s, A’s, and EEEEE’s from emailing everyone :p

  35. veschwab says:

    Re: Yay!
    Thank you Daisy!!!!! And congrats to you too! I can’t wait for the next chapter in our journey 🙂

  36. veschwab says:

    Just a little :p
    Thank you!!!!!

  37. kessie says:

    I’m already plotting on how to convince Head Office to import it for stock. 😀

  38. veschwab says:

    It went pretty fast, yeah! I like to balance it with the fact my first project was on sub for over a year and didn’t sell :p I wrote this one this spring, and it went on sub 7/8/09! I’m going to do a post with a break down soon 🙂

  39. veschwab says:

    Thank you so much 🙂

  40. veschwab says:

    Thanks! Your comment on Verla Kay made me :)))))

  41. kaz_mahoney says:

    Oh, that is the BEST video. *hugs*
    Congratulations again – I am so happy for you. 🙂
    I can’t wait to follow your journey to publication!!
    (Also, I love that my on-submission ms has a similar title to yours. *g*)

  42. veschwab says:

    What’s you title bb??
    And thank you so, so much :))

  43. veschwab says:

    :))))
    I’ll send cupcakes! That always works 🙂

  44. SQUEEEEEE!!!!! I’m thrilled for you!

  45. The first book deal is such a wonderful, wonderful moment! Yay you! Hard work paid off!

  46. kaz_mahoney says:

    The Iron Witch!!
    Yay, witchy-titles! 🙂

  47. kderting says:

    CONGRATS!!!!!!! Sounds amazing and spooky and awesome!!!!

  48. YAY YOU, Victoria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    SO happy for you! And Hyperion is terrific!
    Congratulations, girl! I’m eating a cupcake just for you. ;-D

  49. AWESOME!!!!!!! SO AWESOME!!!!!! I love the champagne story!!!! Go, Victoria!

  50. rj_anderson says:

    FANTASTIC news! My heartiest congratulations!

  51. veschwab says:

    Thanks, Kelly! And I want to eat your icon!!!!

  52. **********************
    !!!!!!!!!!C*O*G*R*A*T*U*L*A*T*I*O*N*S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  53. veschwab says:

    Thanks, Jackie!!!

  54. seeyouupside says:

    Congratulations! (this is rarararach on Twitter…sorry to seem so random)

  55. veschwab says:

    Re: **********************
    Hehehe you missed a letter and I love you EVEN MORE for it :)))))) Thank you so, so much Tiffany. TS forever. All this energy is just going to get passed on to the rest of the Team.

  56. veschwab says:

    Not random at all!! Thank you so much for the well wishes! I hope everyone enjoys the book when it comes out!

  57. veschwab says:

    Thank you so much :))))

  58. veschwab says:

    Haha I couldn’t wait to tell you!! I loved your “Victoria?!?!” post :p
    Thank you for sharing this excitement :)))

  59. sharigreen says:

    Awesome! Congratulations on the sale. Your book sounds so cool!

  60. Re: **********************
    MAN! it’s hard writing in all caps with sparkles inbetween.
    Or maybe I did on purpose as a nod to all the cognitive processes that went into NEAR WITCH?
    Okay, really it was just a typo…

  61. veschwab says:

    Thank you so much! I can’t wait to start this next part! I hope I’m lucky enough to get a cover as lovely and haunting as yours 🙂

  62. veschwab says:

    Yes, cupcake!!!
    Thank you so much Kimberly. I’m just a tad excited :))))

  63. denisejaden says:

    My computer’s being a dork and won’t let me view your video – but I also saw your news on VK and I am super-excited for you. I think we should ALL eat a cupcake in your honor today!
    ps. do you know your release date/season? (sorry if I missed it somewhere)

  64. veschwab says:

    No, I hadn’t posted it yet, but it’s Winter (Jan-Apr) 2011! I’m going to do another post soon with more of the “journey” lol and I was going to post it there!
    And thank you so much for the support!!

  65. jessica_shea says:

    Congratulations! Your video made me so, so happy. I love stories like this. And your book sounds fabulous.

  66. veschwab says:

    Thank you!! And I want to EAT YOUR AVATAR. So pretty. I can’t believe I don’t have a cupcake icon!! *runs off to find one*

  67. robinbridges says:

    Woohoo!!!! Congratulations!

  68. Yay! That’s so exciting, and Near Witch sounds so amazing! I get shivers just from reading the description. Congratulations on the deal! 🙂

  69. veschwab says:

    Thanks Robin!!! I couldn’t be more thrilled!

  70. veschwab says:

    Thank you!!! I’m glad it peaks your interest! Keep that interest peaked until the beginning of 2011!!

  71. beedeecee says:

    AAHHHHHHH!!! super-huge congrats, victoria!

  72. megancrewe says:

    Yay! Congrats! 🙂 Can’t wait to read it!

  73. veschwab says:

    Thanks, Megan! I’m still in shock 🙂

  74. juliakarr says:

    I’ll congratulate you again (woo!) and say that the plot of your book sounds awesome!

  75. veschwab says:

    Thanks Julia!! I can’t wait to head down this path to publication with you!

  76. Anonymous says:

    Jo & Squee
    We’ve already been Squeeeing like crazy but SQUEEEEE for Hyperion again!!! Yay

  77. veschwab says:

    Re: Jo & Squee
    Squeee!!! One more for good measure 🙂 Thank you for EVERYTHING ALWAYS. Yay Hyperion! Yay Abby!

  78. I know I already said this on my blog, but CONGRATS to you again! That is so wonderful!!! What a cute video! 🙂

  79. Anonymous says:

    I know I’ve said it on TS and Twitter, but — let me loan you a few extra of these: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    BB – I. can. not. WAIT. to read this! Omg! Creepy! LOVE.
    ~*sparkly-sparkles*~

  80. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! 🙂

  81. OH!!!! The champagne story made me cry!! I am so happy you were able to uncork that sucker! I congratulated you on Verla’s but I want to do it here too. Congrats!!

  82. veschwab says:

    Thank you :))) And thanks for the add!!

  83. veschwab says:

    Why thank you, my supply was getting slow!!!!!!!
    Thank you bb, for everything :)))))

  84. veschwab says:

    I think my parents are glad it’s no longer taking up space in the fridge :p
    Thanks again, Angie!!!

  85. dawn_metcalf says:

    YAY YAY YAY YAY for CUTE HAPPY PEOPLE!
    (I can’t wait to read it! No, I can’t. Really. I can’t. *grin*)
    !!!!!

  86. veschwab says:

    Aww Dawn, thank you so, so much. :))))))

  87. tessagratton says:

    Oh thank GOD I finally get to read that book. Since I’ve been slathering for it since you started posting teasers!!! 😀 Congrats.

  88. veschwab says:

    Aw Tessa you totally MADE MY DAY.

  89. tessagratton says:

    😀
    I totally understand how you’re feeling because I have similar Very Good News. About which I can still say nothing publicly. Of course.

  90. lisaalbert says:

    Congrats!!! It sounds like a great book, Victoria!!
    Woot!

  91. veschwab says:

    Thanks, Karen!! I’m still in the clouds 🙂

  92. veschwab says:

    Thanks Lisa! I’m incredibly excited to begin this next step in the journey 🙂

  93. How am I JUST NOW hearing about this?!?! OMG!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! 🙂

  94. veschwab says:

    Thanks, Jessica!!!
    I’m VERY excited, to say the least! I might have to steal a few of your PR tricks!

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