Jacinta Lou – Writer

Tag: books

  • My Writing Journey: Successes and Future Goals for 2026

    My Writing Journey: Successes and Future Goals for 2026

    2025 has been and continues to be quite a year. In so many ways.

    On a personal level – I have had success with my writing. The highlight of course my contract with Wombat Books for two early readers.

    In addition with my adult writing I had a tribute to my Dad published in the latest Grieve Anthology. And one of my poems will be published in an upcoming anthology, Her Beauty and Her Terror.

    And, drum roll please, Jacinta Lou has appeared in print for the first time in a wonderful fundraising anthology of whimsy put together by Tasmanian author, Ann Martin.

    The Ballad of Jubal Jacques includes some of Tasmania’s best authors and illustrators. I might have to believe I’m a writer 🙂

    My stories, Aisha and the Olive Tree, and The Book are both in the style of fables and I really enjoyed writing them. The book is available on amazon and all proceeds are for refugees.

    So what is happening now? Well it’s been non stop writing and submitting. The submitting has been picture books. I live in hope I will publish one at some stage. But I’ve expanded my writing to include longer fiction for children.

    I entered a junior fiction short story into an anthology competition and I’m currently working on a young adult short story for another anthology competion.

    So next year I will continue to work on early readers and junior fiction generally and of course, picture books. But my major focus will be a young adult novel I shelved in 2021.

    I found the novel recently and I really enjoyed reading it so I think it’s worth finishing. I’m working with other kidlit novelists to hold each other accountable by setting targets. According to the schedule I have until March to complete the first draft. I’m thirty thousand words in so it feels achievable? What’s it about? Well all I will say for now is that it’s a thriller; full of mystery and intrigue!

    My goals for 2026? It will be the year I learn to build a new webpage. The year my first novel will be sent for appraisal and the year I learn all I can about marketing and school visits in preparation for my 2027 book launch.

    And like every writer, I’m also hoping for more contracts.

    2025 has been a challenging year for children around the world being subjected to hardships and danger no child should endure and if I could give those children one gift, it would be hope.

    Hope for humanity and hope for a peaceful and just future.

    I’m deciding to go forward into 2026 with hope!

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  • Celebrating My First Book Contract: A Writer’s Journey & Imposter Syndrome.

    Celebrating My First Book Contract: A Writer’s Journey & Imposter Syndrome.

    This week I was thrilled to announce I have a two book contract with Wombat books. Two early readers and I am absolutely thrilled. So thrilled and excited I have plastered the internet with the news. I may have gone a bit over board ?

    As writers we work alone. Writing, editing and thinking. Most of the work we create never sees the light of day. Dealing with rejection becomes a way of life. It can feel like a waste of time. I’m sure from the outside it looks like it. But writing is not just a calling. It’s a craft. A skill. And like any skill it requires practice.

    For the last few years I have been writing picture books. I have had success by being awarded an ASA/CA mentorship in 2024. I was also matched in the ASA’s Picture Book Matchmaker. My pitch resulted in a request from the publisher to see the manuscript. To date, there have been no contracts. Yet.

    So when I decided to enter my first attempt at an early reader into Wombat Books open submission in February this year, I did so with zero expectations.

    You can imagine my shock when they asked to see the manuscript!

    Months of rewrites followed and creating another book for the series, and I was offered a contract.

    Throughout the process I felt like the success of this story was unearned. It was my first attempt at an early reader. I had completed several junior fiction courses but hadn’t made it happen. I felt like an imposter.

    Imposter syndrome strikes again. And this is why we have writing groups. ( imposter or impostor? Both are correct so for consistancy on my blog I choose imposter! Despite AI underlining it. I choose to ignore AI)

    Without my kidlit community I wouldn’t have submitted this story. Without my fabulous critique buddies I would have given up on the edits and rewrites. Without their support and encouragement I would have failed to see that all my work on picture books had been the rehearsal for this moment. And without the perseverance of Wombat Books to get me over the line, I wouldn’t have made it.

    So even though we create in solitude – we succeed as a community!

    That’s why I have plastered the internet with my success. Not just for me, but for all the kidlit community.

    I promised myself a new website with my first contract so stay tuned while I try to make that a reality.

    I can’t wait to hold my books in my hands!

    Stand by for even MORE plastering of the internet!

    Thank you

    Jacinta Lou

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  • Getting on With Things

    Getting on With Things

    I don’t usually post twice in a day but I’m trying to learn how to use my website so here is another post!

    It’s been quite a year and I think I am closer to my publishing goal. I’ve been making slow and steady progress. In 2022, I joined groups and completed courses. In 2023, labelled by me as my ‘year of assessments’, I had lots of my stories assessed and ended the year with a successful pitch at the ASA literary speed dating event.

    In 2024, my year of mentoring, I was fortunate to be awarded a mentorship by the Australian Society of Authors/Copyright Agency for one of my picture books and I have been working with my mentor Kristina Shulz.

    At CYA my assessments went well and I’m seeing the improvement in my writing and in my confidence. My old friend, imposter syndrome, is still lurking in the wings, but having Kristina’s support has helped me believe in myself as a writer.

    One highlight this year was being long listed in the annual ‘Pitch It’ competition, so this morning I submitted that story to Affirm Press.

    I hate submitting, but it’s impossible to get published without going through the process, unless you publish the book yourself.

    I can barely get around social media and this webpage so I know I do not have the skill or patience to self publish, which leaves me throwing my hat in the ring for a shot at a traditional publishing contract.

    I’m enjoying rewriting and restructuring my stories, so the waiting and wondering isn’t too onerous, but like all aspiring writers, I can’t wait to get on with the job of publishing my stories.

    The kidlit community is a wonderful, supportive community. I have a fabulous critique group and other writer friends to chat to both online and locally. Everyone knows how hard it is to get a contract and we all cheer loudly when someone is successful. We are all a part of each other’s journeys even if it’s just to cheer!

    If I never get a contract, being a part of this community is worth it in itself, but I would really love to see one of many stories in print and see how an illustrator interprets my words.

    Fingers crossed 2025 is my year of contracts!

    You will be the first to know!

      • Adding to the Clan

        Adding to the Clan

        Our alpaca family reduced to two alpacas. Bella, a rescued alpaca from the equivalent of a ‘puppy farm’ for alpacas who is getting on in years, and Tilly, who we have had for the last two years from when he was a Cria. Sadly, they don’t get on, which is not ideal for herd animals, so we were on the lookout.

        Brightside Animal Sanctuary advertised they needed to re-home alpacas and invited applications and now we have five more alpacas chomping on grass and filling our hearts with love.

        Our new herd, a group of four with a similar background to Bella and a little surrendered alpaca, made themselves at home. Tilly was so excited. More alpacas to play with. Bella walked down from her hill and sniffed them and then retreated to the furthermost corner of the paddock. She was having none of it. Over the last couple of weeks she has softened her stance and now almost mixes with the new herd. Tilly gets confused as his loyalty was to Bella and he wasn’t sure who was boss. I think it’s Bella, but we let him think it’s him. The two herds are almost one. Almost.

        I just visited and they are now leaving Tilly out on his own. Or perhaps he is leaving himself out. He has always been a little on the skittish side, so perhaps too many confidant alpacas are more than he can cope with. I’m sure he will be back in the herd soon.

        It’s been interesting watching the politics play out. We think two of the newcomers are gelded males, but other than a bit of spitting from Bella and long stares with ears back and tails up from the other two geldings, they have been very gentle with each other. I’ve almost got one of the new ones to eat from a bucket I’m holding. Little steps.

        So the other news since the last post concerns the two new chickens. Turns out they were both roosters, so we had to get earmuffs to sleep while we sorted out their fate. Fortunately, we found someone who wanted a rooster to protect his chooks, and since ours was a bonded pair who had sorted out who was the alpha rooster, he was happy to take both. I didn’t want them to have to become anyone’s dinner.

        One of Rex’s chooks took herself into the bush to build a nest. Every day, she would come back for food and water and every day, while she was a way, a currawong raided her nest. Sadly, she didn’t protect any of her eggs, so she is back home alone. She has a very safe nesting box, so I’m not sure why she went bush. Hopefully she will stay home next year and protect her eggs.

        Throughout spring, the currawongs have been raiding the chook pens for scraps and the occasional egg. I watched one carry an egg in his beak for about twenty minutes, walking around the yard looking for a rock to open his prize. Eventually, he flew up to a post and then tossed it onto the ground. That’s one way to break an egg.

        Watching the birds and the animals is a great way to spend time and I have lots of ideas for picture books, but unless I sit down and write them, all they will be is ideas so it’s back to the computer for me after I just take one more walk to visit the alpacas!

          1. Jacinta Lou's avatar
          2. Julia Miller's avatar
          3. Jacinta Lou's avatar
          4. Julia Miller's avatar

            It’s great to here your news both good and difficult. Keep writing keep caring and look after that rooster!

          5. Treechange Life's avatar

          My Writing Journey: Successes and Future Goals for 2026

          2025 has been and continues to be quite a year. In so many ways. On a personal level – I have had success with my writing. The highlight of course my contract with Wombat Books for two early readers. In addition with my adult writing I had a tribute to my Dad published in the…

          Jacinta Lou's avatar by Jacinta Lou

          Getting on With Things

          I don’t usually post twice in a day but I’m trying to learn how to use my website so here is another post! It’s been quite a year and I think I am closer to my publishing goal. I’ve been making slow and steady progress. In 2022, I joined groups and completed courses. In 2023,…

          Jacinta Lou's avatar by Jacinta Lou