Nancy Kay's Journey to Publication

Writing Romantic Suspense came very naturally to me. I've been married to the same wonderful man for 46 years come this December. Twenty-eight of those years he served on the Pennsylvania State Police. Mystery and elements of danger intrigue me, so when I got around to writing those stories floating around in my head, the direction they took was inevitable.

My journey to publication began one frigid winter day when I attended a talk at the library given by three local authors. Unfortunately for them, the attendance was small. Fortunately for me, I got to talk one on one with some very special ladies. I had a story in mind and their advice was to join RWA and 'just write!' So I did.

Several months later, about eight to be exact, I contacted one of the authors and asked if she'd meet me for lunch. She agreed and with a tolerant smile, gave me some gentle guidance and advice. After cutting about three thousand words from my masterpiece, I entered a couple of RWA chapter contests. Much to my delight and surprise I placed second in one and got honorable mention in another!

Then the real work began. I stared at my manuscript, puzzled by the term 'point of view'. That's a small hint to what I faced as a writer. Over the next seven years I attended RWA chapter meetings, small conferences and retreats. I took numerous online classes and completed two full manuscripts.

I agonized over query letters and pitches. My most difficult obstacle was deciding where my stories fit and what audience to target. I still struggle with these issues, because I believe the reader is the one who will ultimately decide if a particular story 'fits' their taste. However, just recently I read an interesting blog which brought to light two takes on romantic suspense, Hearth and Home verses Dark and Scary. My stories fall somewhere in between, so, when asked, I write romantic suspense with a hearth and home slant that's sometimes scary!

I belong to three RWA chapters. Last year I attended my first RWA National Conference in Orlando. Contacts made at the conference, along with growing confidence, led me to submit and get offered a three book contract through Desert Breeze Publishing. For months I studied and considered several e-publishers and found what I wanted with Desert Breeze.

I encourage aspiring authors to research and study every agent or publisher they are considering. Don't lose sight of your inner story. Take time to find a place your stories will be accepted. Think twice about changing your work drastically for a publisher to gain acceptance.

The story line and thoughts inside you begging to be woven into characters are what create the writer you will become. First and foremost, you must learn the craft of writing. I learned a great deal through trial and error - heavy on the error. My advice? Read what you love, what you want to write. Listen to fellow writers and commit to classes you need to overcome your weaknesses.

One of my favorite sayings: "Luck is what you call it when preparation meats opportunity." General David Petraeus.