My “quick bio” is HERE, but so often I get asked how I got into writing, I figured I’d share that here with you. Mostly the question comes from people I grew up with because they’re so shocked that I’m a published author. **silly grin**
If you’re in the mood for a little bit of a read, grab a cup of coffee and have a seat.
This is my story.
~~~~~
Writing basically found me to be honest with you. I didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer. I didn’t take creative writing classes through high school and college. Nor did I write a lot while growing up like many writers did. You know, poetry, short stories or for the school newspaper/yearbook.
I was your basic tom boy who didn’t get great grades in high school and would rather play tennis than do anything.
Heck, I didn’t even really read much for recreation. Especially after graduate school. Something about reading all those books for grad school, writing a thesis, research….That all just burned me out on the whole reading-thing.
In 2007 I picked up a book, This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti. I figured, okay, let’s give this a try. It’s got some demons and some dark, scary stuff.
I was hooked.
A little story that had been roaming around my brain popped back into my conscious and took root.
Big time.
I sat down in late 2007 and started typing. And typing. And typing.
Now, I’d penned a few paragraphs here and there about this story for a while, but it was just me being bored over lunch periods. I mean, I couldn’t possibly have a story to write.
Could I?
By November of 2007 I had an 87,000-word novel and no clue what to do next. I gave it to my mother in law, Lynn, who read it and hacked it up.
Bless her heart. That book…*bows head in shame* was horribly written. Fun story, but like I’d mentioned early. I had NO training whatsoever.
Still, she was very nice. Encouraging. It gave me hope.
One morning I was out running with my BFF, Michele, and told her I had written a novel. Once she got over the shock we started talking about it. I pretty much asked her what she thought I should do. I mean, I couldn’t possibly become a writer.
Could I?
Michele simply said, “Take the next step.”
Heck, I didn’t even know what a next step was when it came to writing. So, I Googled it. Found a local writer’s group and called them up. Jan Potter welcomed me so nicely over the phone I couldn’t resist showing up for a meeting in March of 2008.
And get this…I READ some of my novel to the group. Aloud!
*Gasp* I don’t read ALOUD!
Talk about nerve-wracking and me out of my comfort zone. I got some very positive feedback, and with that first hurdle out of the way, I kept going back.
I Googled some more and found out I needed an agent. So, silly me, I sent out some queries. *again, I bow my head in shame. That book was horribly written, I had no business sending that out anywhere*
Then, my MIL, Lynn, mentioned there was a writer in their hometown of Sioux Center, IA named Nicole Baart, and that I should contact her for guidance.
So, I got out the good ole Google again and found her. Sent her an email, and the NEXT day she replied!
She referred me to ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) as a place to start. By May 2008 I joined and found a critique group.
That’s where the REAL fun began. I found out what it meant to write for publication, survived my first critique and realized I had no business sending out queries yet. Jeez, I hadn’t even understood Point of View (POV) yet! **blushes with embarrassment**
So, I spent the next year or so learning the craft, finding conferences to attend, soaking up everything from my crit group and polishing my novel.
In the mean time, I kept writing. And writing. And writing. That brings us to about late summer 2009. I started getting some nibbles and placing/finaling in a few contests. So, I worked on sending out some queries, even did a few agent pitch sessions at a couple conferences.
Received some very helpful feedback. Still no bites, but I was learning.
Always learning in this industry, for sure. By then I found Romance Writers Association. I joined that organization and it’s sub-group Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal.
By the end of the year, I had placed in a couple contests and gotten a couple requests for full manuscripts by editors. First of the year 2010, I landed my agent with my Heaven’s Fire manuscript and during that same time, Violet Midnight won a contest for publication.
Here I thought I was on my way for sure! LOL. Nothing is ever what it seems, remember.
My contract for Violet Midnight fell through when publishing company went under. AFTER I’d already had a cover and first round of edits done. **ouch**
Such a disappointment, but, hey, stuff happens. And I trust God through it all, so I just sat back and let my agent take the reigns.
We had several nibbles along the way, but nothing ever panned out. No full rejections or acceptances. Which was strange.
Then, Fall of 2010, I attended a few editor pitch sessions on Savvy Authors.com. My agent couldn’t pitch for me since it was for writers only, so I pitched for us.
Marlene from Crescent Moon Press, Inc. asked for a partial on Wasteland. My 13th novel and one written less than a year prior to this (December 2009). So, I sent it over and a few weeks later I got an email from Steph Murray, another editor at Crescent Moon Press, asking for the full.
I sent it straight away with fingers crossed and prayers heavenward.
The next day I had a contract offer.
Needless to say me, my hubby and my agent were super happy.
Now. You would think I had it made, right?
Well, bumps will come, no matter what. A few months later, my agent walked away from the agency and the agency crumbled, leaving me and about fifteen other writers stranded in the publishing waters without a buoy. And two months before my release date.
Sure, I had a book contract and a release date, but still. No one help navigate the terrain of edits, release dates, publicity.
Nothing.
But, the editors at Crescent Moon Press stepped up, took me under their wing. I’ve learned so much. I can’t thank them enough.
During that time, they asked if I had any more novels, and since I did, I sent them Violet Midnight. It was the first of three novels with Emma and Jake (Violet Night Series).
When I got the email from Steph, “I’m drafting a three book deal now” I almost fell over. I was at work (At CCV Bookstore) and started jumping up and down. Ran to a volunteer, Bob, and showed him the email.
I couldn’t really concentrate after that, but I managed to make it through the day.
So, for now, I’m working on edits, navigating release parties and interviews and loving EVERY minute of it.
I think the main thing I’ve learned through everything is that I’m thankful for God, my sweet hubby, and my family & friends. Without them all, I would not be enjoying this life as published author.
So, stay tuned, I think the fun is just beginning.
