Christina's Journey to Publication

Every path is different to publication so it's best not to judge yours by others. It's easy to get demoralized and question your ability when comparing accomplishments. The times when I sit and stack where I'm at with my writing career against another, I always come away feeling a down and wondering why I am bothering. But I do know why I bother. I can't. There's something inside of me compelling me to write. There are stories in my head that want out and won't quiet until I get them onto the computer.

I have had some ups and downs along the way to publication: a publisher going out of business, two maybes where I spent many months editing a book only to be told no at the end, trying to change my voice and style to please others. I finally found that 'open door' again when I wrote the story I wanted to tell and sent that story to the publisher rather than the other way around.

The advice I wish I had taken to heart a lot sooner than I did was to be true to yourself. Be true to your writer's voice and the story you need to tell. That is when the words come out the most pure and will touch those that read them.

Amy's Journey to Publication

When folks ask me about how I got published and my journey, I cringe and wonder if there is anything I can add to the hundreds of stories written by all the other authors. Our stories are all the same: years of struggle, followed by a few crumbs of success. However, the aspects that may be of most help and interest to others are what the process taught the author. For me, that’s easy: I learned “to thine own self be true.”

That’s an odd thing for a writer to learn, because most writers have the opposite problem. They write what they want to write and discover (to their horror) that their finished tome doesn’t fit into any genre that a potential publisher feels comfortable publishing. So they can’t find their book a home. For many authors, it’s a question of marketability. Can the agent and publisher identify a hook for the books, a genre (so it can be shelved appropriately in the bookstore), or a market plan?

So many new authors write the book of their heart and then seek to publish it, forgetting that unless it can be marketed, it is difficult to find either a publisher or an audience.

I didn’t have that issue in my quest to be published, but I did have the problem of matching my “vision” with reality. You see, I thought I wanted to be a romance writer. I joined Romance Writers of America as a charter member and got some encouraging rejections from romance publishers during the ‘80’s, but I always sort of “missed the mark.”

Later, I discovered a wonderful group of friends also working on being authors and one by one, they signed with agents and got contracts. But somehow, I didn’t fit in. They tried to tell me that I wasn’t really writing romances, but darn it, I had it in my head that that’s what I wanted to be: a romance writer.

Now, a normal writer would have looked at what she actually read and considered that. But I was trying to be strictly business, and I knew that romance sold well. My friends were all writing romances. I didn’t know writers in any other genres. I’d even read one or two romances when I was a teen. I thought it was the way to go.

But it was not where my heart lay. I confused the light, romantic subplots of Agatha Christie books like “The Man in the Brown Suit” or Mary Stewart’s “My Brother Michael” for romances, ignoring that the main plot was the mystery while the romance was only a tenuous subplot. Even my friends noted that one of my favorite authors, Barbara Michaels, claimed “I’m not a romance writer.” I was stunned by that, since Michaels’ books were exactly the kind of book I most enjoyed. I considered them to be paranormal romances.

A brighter writer would have understood the facts sooner, but I’m nothing if not stubborn. I wrote several books that were mostly mystery with a slight romantic subplot and tried to market them to romance publishers and agents. It’s rather surprising that I got as much interest as I did. In fact, I signed with two agents.

In 2008, I sold my first book, a romance. But hard as I tried, I couldn’t for the life of me sell any additional manuscripts. “Strengthen the romance” was the most common remark. Eventually, it occurred to me that I read mostly mysteries, suspense, and science fiction. Sure, I read Georgette Heyer, but I didn’t like her straight romances. I preferred her mysteries. In fact, I was shocked when other folks said they liked those Heyer stories that I considered rather poor specimens. They were straight romances, as opposed to her mysteries or romantic adventures. Eventually, though, even I had to realize what was going on.

A-ha! I was a mystery writer!

As soon as I realized that and had the courage to step forward and write a mystery (with a romantic subplot, because how can you have a happy ending without a romance?) I found success. It’s almost like one of those addiction programs where you have to admit that “Yes, I’m a mystery writer” before you can be cured.

And this brings us back to my original point: “to thine own self be true.”

You can blithely ignore the markets and write what you want to write and not sell because your manuscript doesn’t fit into a marketable niche. Or you can try to squeeze yourself into a niche that doesn’t quite fit you and be miserable. And you might sell, depending upon how well you fit that genre. Ultimately though, you need to find the marketable niche that you can fit into and still be true to yourself.

You need to be happy writing, otherwise, what’s the point? So now I write mysteries, but there is always a romance involved. Somehow, it doesn’t seem like a happy ending unless a mystery is solved and love is discovered.

It sounds so easy, but the path is arduous and twisted at best. But for me, it’s all been worth it, because I still believe: Every good mystery has a touch of romance.

Janet's Journey to Publication

My journey to publication is rather long and conviluted. In 1962 I was a stay-at home mom staying at home with my first child. I was also rather isolated since my husband was in the Public Health Service and we were living on an Indian reservation. The hospital, council house and houses for the two doctors were there. There was a small town nearby. I've always loved to read and had dabbled in trying to write since my early years but I was kind of a scattered person with many enthusiasms, writing being one. Since the library in the small town was limited and the closest large library was an hour plus trip, I bought books on writing and began reading them and piecing together stories. I was writing for my own pleasure and to keep from being bored.

Finally in 1967 I garnered the courage and sent our a story. Many rejections later, a small magazine bought the story. This was the beginning and I would still be writing short stories but the markets dried up and I received a rejection saying the story sounded like a synopsis for a novel. Thus I set out to learn how to write novels. During a college course when I was debating obtaining a BS in Nursing a professor read some of my dabbles and encouraged me to write some poetry. I followed through on this and saw several poems published. One even earned enough to pay for the postage.

But back to novel writing. In 1972 after a novel being rejected 17 times it sold to the first editor to reject it. Three novels followed and I begin to explore other stories than "sweet" nurse romances. My children grew and college expenses beckoned so I returned to nursing and put writing aside. In 1990 I began fiction writing again. Thanks to Jane Toombs who sold my idea for a novel to her editor I was off and running again.

Karen's Journey to Publication & What Inspires Her

Please share with us, Karen, your journey to publication.

I wrote my first book when I was ten years old. That was the summer my family was in Oklahoma (for my father’s job), and we discovered this abandoned old trailer with photographs all over the trashed floor. Both my sister (author Linda Derkez http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/linda.html) and I got a ton of ideas from looking at these pictures, speculating about who had lived there, what happened that they left all these photos behind. That was the summer I knew I was destined to be a writer. All those daydreams were about to pay off. I started brainstorming romances, thrillers, and mysteries in my head. By the time I was sixteen, I’d written almost a dozen books, short stories, and countless poems. Unofficially, I had my own fan club in high school and had a dozen publishing credits to my name (all poems).

Getting my fiction published was the hard part, and, ironically, I got so tired of the whole rejection thing, I’d just made the decision to quit writing for anyone but myself. I don’t remember whether it was a day or week after I made this decision that I received my first contract. Talk about turning a corner and coming face-to-face with a dream! In any case, my first novel (a romance) was finished published in June 1998 (I was 32). I’ve been on a roll since then.

My journey to publication with the Family Heirlooms Series started when Baby, Baby, Book 1, Shadow Boxing, Book 2, and Foolish Games, Book 3 were previously published by Samhain Publishing. When things didn’t work out the way I was hoping there, I took the whole series to Whiskey Creek Press, who bought all six books at once. Because my fans were waiting so long for Book 4, we decided to release Glass Angels first, then quickly re-issue the first three Books in the series in short order afterward. Book 1 was released in April 2011, Book 2 May 2011, and Book 3 July 2011. The final two books in the series, Shards of Ashley and Worlds Collide, will be released September 2011 and March 2012. Also look for the spin-off to my Family Heirlooms Series, the Friendship Heirlooms Series, with Clumsy Girl’s Guide to Falling in Love, Book 1 (inspirational romantic comedy/Chick-lit) and Michael’s Angel, Book 2 (inspirational romantic suspense).

What inspires you, Karen?

I’m a life-long learner. Every experience in my life—whether happy, painful, sad or horrible—leads me to the question of what I’ll learn from it. But I’m not an adventurer. I’m not an explorer. I prefer to live vicariously through my characters. Too much excitement makes me completely insane, and I have to come home and plug in there or I run down. I really was designed to be a writer for those reasons. In my writing, many things inspire me. People watching. Listening to people talk. Faces—not necessarily beautiful or perfect. Unusual stories. An alternate idea not explored in a novel or movie. Headlines. I was in church a few years ago, and a family had gone on a missionary trip for a week to help build a house for a needy family in Mexico. They shared their experiences, and I was instantly captivated. A story I’d had in mind took shape quickly based on this show-and-tell, and the outcome was Shadow Boxing, Book 2 of my Family Heirlooms Series (which was reissued in May 2011). Inspiration is everywhere—plucking it out, refining and “brewing” it in my mind for a long period of time is the easiest and most incredible part of being an author.

http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/fiction9a.html

 
I just want to say I have a very healthy respect for you, Karen and all you've accomplished.  You're a wonderful writer and a great inspiration!  I wish you continued success!  Friends, don't forget to comment for a chance to win one of Karen's books.

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.