Today I chat with the lovely Sharon Wray, the debut author of ‘Every Deep Desire’, who shares with us her path to publication. Her debut ‘Every Deep Desire’ was released March 6 2018!
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines retell Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.
Hi Sharon, I’m so excited to have you on my blog, and thank you so much for sharing your ‘Path to Publication’ experience with us all. I know so many of my readers will love to hear about how you went from an aspiring author to a published one, and many will gather inspiration from the journey!
Thanks so much, Maddison, for inviting me to your blog today! I can’t wait to get started. 🙂
How long have you been writing for?
I’ve been writing since I was in middle school, but I never considered myself a writer until I was an adult.
How long did it take you from when you started writing, to when you became a published (or soon to be) published author?
It took me 8 full manuscripts, 2 partial manuscripts, and 12 years to sell my Deadly Force series. It then took another 2 years before my debut book Every Deep Desire hit the bookshelves. .
Where do you write from, home, office, coffee shop, etc? And do you have any pre-writing or actual writing rituals (such as lighting a candle, listening to music, etc)?
I usually write at home. I have a small desk in the kitchen and then I move around between the couch, my bed, and then back to my desk. Sometimes, if I simply can’t get out of my own head, I go to a nearby coffee shop. The problem is that I live in a busy, congested area outside of Washington, DC and the coffee shops—and outlets—are often full. But if I can get there early, I can usually snag a seat in the corner.
As far as prewriting rituals, I do have a few. I scan my email and texts and make sure I don’t have anything to do for my editor or kids or husband (My main priorities, lol). Then I look at a few news sites, make a cup of coffee, check my to-do list so I don’t miss any appointments, and then sit down and write.
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in-between?
I am an in-between writer. I like to have an outline with all of the turning points and major scenes worked out. I’d like it to be more detailed, but it never works out that way. So I use my general outline and move forward, constantly readjusting between the turning points to make sure I’m not off track.
What is your favourite part of the writing process?
I hate the first draft because I find it so stressful. I much prefer to edit a page than face a blank one!
What is the most important part of a novel to you: plot, characters, or setting?
Characters are the most important because they’re the most interesting and drive all the action.
Describe your writing routine (how long do you spending plotting the novel, time spent writing, editing, submitting it):
It takes me nine months to write a novel, with the first 6 weeks or so doing all the background outlining work. The rest is drafting, changing things around, editing, and polishing and submitting. Every book is different, though. Some take longer to draft and others longer to edit.
I’ve written two full novels so far and am on my third. I’d say on average it takes me anywhere from 8-12 months to write the first draft.
How many books a year do you usually write (or are you aiming to write):
It takes me about nine months to finish a book, then another few months with my editor in revisions. I’d like to pick up the pace but right now I’m just a very slow writer.
How did you get your agent, or your publishing contract (if applicable)?
I’ll try and keep this short! It took me six years of querying, writing, learning, entering contests, and finishing manuscripts to get my agent. She’d already rejected me a number of times but had left the door open. So every time I had a new manuscript, I sent it to her. I guess you could say I bugged her until she finally signed me. LOL
It took another six years of writing and rewriting until I sold. It all started with a tweet I sent about another author (a nice tweet!). Her editor saw it, contacted my agent, asked to see my current manuscript, and we decided to send it to her as well as other editors. We went on submission on a partial and the book went to auction about six weeks later.
How did you cope with rejection during the querying process?
I had many, many years of learning how to deal with rejection. After a while, I was so used to it that I turned it into a game. Every time I got rejected, I went out to lunch with a girlfriend. Sometimes, we’d even order a split of champagne! I was rewarding myself for trying and for not giving up.
Describe the time when you got ‘the call’ regarding publication:
We’d been out on submission for about six weeks when my agents (I have two in the same agency—it’s an unusual-yet-wonderful mentoring situation) asked to talk on Skype. I knew there were still two editors who hadn’t responded, but all of the other ones had passed. When my agents told me that two editors were interested, I was stunned and when the shock wore off I was so excited there aren’t words to describe it. I eventually went with Sourcebooks and my amazing editor Deb Werksman. She helped me craft the book into something I’m so proud of and that I hope readers will love.
What were your biggest learning experiences or surprises throughout the publishing journey?
1.To expect the unexpected.
2. Keep your eyes on your own journey and don’t compare yourself to others.
3. Even the smallest thing like a tweet can change your life.
Looking back, what do you think you did right that helped you break in?
I stayed active in the writing community and I never gave up.
Best advice you’ve ever been given, or have heard, about writing?
Everything that Stephen King says in his book “On Writing”. It’s filled with brilliant insights about what it’s like to be a writer.
Any advice for aspiring writers on writing and submitting?
This is from Winston Churchill. “Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” In the case of writers, the enemy is our own self-doubt
What advice can you give to other writers on building a platform and gaining a readership base?
When building a platform, do what you love. Talk and write about things you are passionate about –besides writing—and engage on platforms you’re comfortable with. And DON’T compare yourself to other authors. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
What’s up next for you, and what are you working on now?
I’m working on book 2 in the Deadly Force Series titled One Dark Wish. It should release in January 2018.
How can people connect with you?
Through my website and on most social media platforms. Although I hate to admit this, but when I’m under deadline I may not check in with SM for days. So please be patient with me!
Thank you so much for hosting me today. I’ve enjoyed getting to know your readers!
Thank you so much Sharon for sharing your Path to Publication with us! What an awesome journey, with many more adventures to come. Good luck on your release of ‘Every Deep Desire’ – can’t wait to have a read 🙂
And for those of you who want to have a read of Sharon’s awesome book ‘Every Deep Desire’, was released on March 6th, 2018. Click on the pic below for more info.
‘Every Deep Desire’
He’s taking it all back
His honor, his freedom, and the woman he loves
Rafe Montfort was a decorated Green Beret, the best of the best, until a disastrous mission and an unforgivable betrayal destroyed his life. Now, this deadly soldier has returned to the sultry Georgia swamps to reunite with his brothers, and take back all he lost. But his wife Juliet must never know the truth behind what he’s done…or the dangerous secret that threatens to take him from her forever.
It took Juliet Capel eight long years to put her life back together after her husband was taken from her. Now Rafe is back, determined to protect her at any cost, and it’s not just her heart that’s in danger. The swamps hold a secret long buried and far deadlier than either of them could have imagined…
About Sharon:
Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines retell Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.
Today I chat with the super lovely Christina Britton, who is not only a fellow Historical Romance Author but she is also a fellow Patronesses of ‘The Drawing Room’, a Facebook Historical Romance Group, that I’m very proud to be a part of. Christina shares with us her Path to Publication relating to her debut novel ‘With Love in Sight’, which released last week with Diversion Books.
Christina is just wonderful, and her book is awesome! I’m so excited to be able to feature her on my website, and share with you all her Path to Publication. So let’s get started!!
How long have you been writing for?
I’ve been writing since I was fourteen (and I will NOT tell you how many years ago that was, though I will say that New Kids on the Block was quite popular).
How long did it take you from when you started writing, to when you became a published (or soon to be) published author?
Though I’ve been writing with the hope of one day being published since I was a teen, it wasn’t until my second child started school that I truly put all of my focus into getting published. From that life-changing decision to the publication of my first book, it’s been four years.
Where do you write from, home, office, coffee shop, etc? And do you have any pre-writing or actual writing rituals (such as lighting a candle, listening to music, etc)?
I live in a super small house that was built in 1915, and there isn’t any room for an office or even a desk of my own. And so I tend to write wherever I can. Right now I’m on the couch, as it allows my writing partner and pup, Miss Emma, to curl up with me. I also meet some writing friends of mine several times a week at a local bakery (which, funny enough, makes certain I don’t eat everything in creation like I do when I’m at home). As far as rituals go, I make sure I have water and tissues handy (allergic to everything), and that’s about it! I’ve quickly learned that I have to grasp at any chance I can to write, whether that’s scribbling on a receipt while waiting at the school to pick up the kids or on my AquaNotes in the shower, and so I can’t be too picky.
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in-between?
I’m what I like to call a ‘plotster’, which basically means I’m a hybrid who does whatever feels right at the time. I’m very character driven, and so I can only plot out the key moments in a book; anything more and I begin to feel trapped in by the story and flounder.
What is your favourite part of the writing process?
Writing ‘The End’? But seriously, I love the very beginning where I’m fleshing out these new characters and learning who they are so I can get into their minds. They are becoming people to me at that phase, and it’s kind of amazing. Also, that moment when you sit down to a blank file and type out the very first words of a story. Pure bliss!
What is the most important part of a novel to you: plot, characters, or setting?
Characters, hands down. I let them take the helm throughout the book in order to up the emotional stakes.
Describe your writing routine (how long do you spending plotting the novel, time spent writing, editing, submitting it):
Each book is different; it all depends on what’s happening at the time (Do the kids have a long break from school? Have I gotten edits back for another book that I need to work on? That type of thing). Typically I will spend just a couple days fleshing out my characters and any plot ideas before I dive right in. I write linearly, and so will start at page one and go from there. I spend perhaps 3 months writing, maybe a month revising, then while the book is out with beta readers I will start work on the next one (I have to keep moving or I panic!). Once the feedback comes in I usually take a week or two to polish, then it’s off to my agent or editor.
How many books a year do you usually write (or are you aiming to write):
Typically anywhere from two to three books a year.
How did you get your agent, or your publishing contract (if applicable)?
I actually got my first publishing contract with Samhain via a Twitter Pitch. My agent had already requested my full manuscript, so I contacted her and let her know about the offer and asked if she wanted to represent me. I signed with her not long after. Then, to my dismay, Samhain closed. Thank goodness I had my agent. She got my rights back and immediately began querying other publishing houses. Less than a year later I signed with Diversion Books!
How did you cope with rejection during the querying process?
Chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate.
What were your biggest learning experiences or surprises throughout the publishing journey?
How long everything takes when you’re being traditionally published (see my comment below about patience…)
Looking back, what do you think you did right that helped you break in?
I kept at it, even when my heart was breaking, even when it seemed like becoming published was far out of my reach and would never happen. That is I think the one thing that helped.
Is there anything you wish you could do differently?
I do wish I could be more patient. I can see a present under the tree for the entire month of December and have no wish to open it early, I love the suspense so much. But when it comes to the business of publishing, I am so eager to move forward that I tend to rush my fences.
Best advice you’ve ever been given, or have heard, about writing?
Don’t. Give. Up. If you keep at it, it WILL happen.
Any advice for aspiring writers on writing and submitting?
First and foremost, this is a business. When you get that rejection (for me it was 26 before I signed with my agent—yes I counted), it is not personal, nor is it about you. And it doesn’t mean your writing is horrible either. Agents and editors are looking for that special something that calls to them. Keep at it and you will find that person who HAS to have your work. Oh, and stock up on chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate.
What advice can you give to other writers on building a platform and gaining a readership base?
One thing I learned about using social media as an author is to limit promotion to about 20% of your posts. All other posts should engage your readers and provide them with something fun/useful. Do you have cooking in your book? Share recipes. Do you have an adorable pet? Share pics and stories. Love to travel? Post pictures from your travels and tips on travelling. Give your readers something that will interest them and keep them coming back!
What’s up next for you, and what are you working on now?
Book two of my Twice Shy series will be out in the fall, and I’ve already sent my publisher book three! Right now I’m working on something new, something super secret. Though I will say that my hero is modeled after Charlie Hunnam, so the eye candy is superb.
Thank you so much Christina for sharing your Path to Publication with us! I had such fun reading about your Path to Publication, and I loved your debut With Love in Sight! I cannot wait to read more of your books 🙂
And for those of you who want to read Christina’s amazing debut book ‘With Love in Sightl’ just click on the pic below for more info.
‘With Love in Sight’
An aging spinster at twenty-six, all Imogen Duncan sees ahead of her is a life of servitude to her overbearing mother. Her London Season has passed and her desperate shyness and reserved demeanor have destroyed any chance for a match. As her younger sister Mariah begins her own Season with a selection of suitors, Imogen believes her chances for excitement are well and truly lost…Until a case of mistaken identity and an accidental kiss bring adventure into her life.
Burying his guilt from a decade-old tragedy beneath a life of debauchery, Caleb Masters, Marquess of Willbridge is content enough to meet willing widows in dark gardens to numb the pain. But he is wholly unprepared when an innocent miss stumbles into his life, turning his superficial world on its head.
Drawn to the rogue that mistakenly stole her first kiss, Imogen finds not a suitor, but a friend. Free to be herself for the first time in her life, she begins to see a new beauty in the world around her…and see a strength in herself she never knew she possessed. But when friendship turns to passion, Imogen will accept nothing less than Caleb’s heart. Can a healing of the past lead to the promise of a future together?
About Christina:
Christina Britton developed a passion for writing romance novels shortly after buying her first at the tender age of thirteen. Though for several years she turned to art and put brush instead of pen to paper, she has returned to her first love and is now writing full time. She spends her days dreaming of corsets and cravats and noblemen with tortured souls.
She lives with her husband and two children in the San Francisco Bay Area. A member of Romance Writers of America, she also belongs to her local chapter, Silicon Valley RWA, and is a 2017 RWA® Golden Heart® winner.
Christina can be found on the following platforms:
Today I chat with the wonderful Renee Dahlia, a fellow Australian Author, who shares with us her path to publication. Her latest book, a short story ‘The Bluestocking’s Legacy’ is available now.
Renée is an unabashed romance reader who loves feisty women and strong, clever men. Her books reflect this, with a side-note of dark humour. Renée has a science degree in physics. When not distracted by the characters fighting for attention in her brain, she works in the horse racing industry doing data analysis. She writes for two racing publications, churning out feature articles, interviews and advertorials. When she isn’t reading or writing, Renée wrangles a husband, four children, and volunteers on the local cricket club committee.
Welcome to my blog, Renee! I’m excited to have you here, and thank you so much for sharing your ‘Path to Publication’ experience with us all. I know so many of my readers will love to hear about how you went from an aspiring author to a published one, and many will gather inspiration from the journey!
Thank you, Maddison, for this opportunity to chat with you about my path to publication. There are so many wonderful stories out there waiting to be published, and I can read far more books than I can write, so my advice to all aspiring writers is to please keep writing.
How long have you been writing for?
About a decade. My journey started in an unexpected place. I studied physics and maths at uni, because none of the course work included any essay writing! Years later, an opportunity came up to write a series of statistically based ‘myth busting’ articles for a horse racing magazine. It grew from there, and I still write regularly for two magazines. A few years ago, I ghost-wrote a biographical book for a famous Australian racing personality. That gave me a taste for longer form writing, and I started writing a romance as a creative exercise. To see if I could. Why romance? Because I’m a voracious reader of the genre, and it seemed a natural place to start.
How long did it take you from when you started writing, to when you became a published author?
Please don’t hit me, but my first book, To Charm a Bluestocking, the aforementioned creative exercise, was published by Harlequin’s Escape Publishing in March 2017, only a year after I started writing it. I know how rare my experience is, and I’m very grateful to Kate and the team at Escape for this opportunity.
Where do you write from, home, office, coffee shop, etc? And do you have any pre-writing or actual writing rituals (such as lighting a candle, listening to music, etc)?
I have a laptop and can write pretty much anywhere. My second book, In Pursuit of a Bluestocking, was mostly written while watching my kids play cricket. Normally, I write from home, and am fortunate enough that my magazine writing earns enough so I can call myself a full time writer.
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in-between?
Somewhere in between. Maybe it’s my scientific training? I love the concept of romance beats, and I put them together to form the backbone of a book. I often take a few chapters to write my way into a story, and learn the characters. Those first few chapters usually don’t make the final cut.
What is your favourite part of the writing process?
Dialogue. I love the way characters talk to each other and go to unexpected places.
What is the most important part of a novel to you: plot, characters, or setting?
Characters and the way they banter together.
Describe your writing routine (how long do you spending plotting the novel, time spent writing, editing, submitting it):
I’m trying to get to a place where I can write a novel, let it rest while I write the next, then come back and edit the first, on rotation. Because I was lucky enough to get published (virtually) straightaway, I still feel like I’m playing catch up. I’d like to be able to let my books ‘rest’ for longer.
How many books a year do you usually write (or are you aiming to write):
I’ve written six books in my first two years of writing. Two are published, one is due out in September, two are on submission, and the other is a completed first draft at this stage. I’ve also written a couple of short stories, and one, The Bluestocking’s Legacy, is available now. It’s the great-grandson of the heroine from my debut novel, To Charm a Bluestocking, and he’s an Olympics hero with a twist.
I’m aiming to write five books in 2018.
How did you get your publishing contract?
I pitched the Bluestocking series at Escape Publishing at RWA 2016 and the first one was publishing in March 2017, the second in October 2017, and the third will be out in September 2018.
Describe the time when you got ‘the call’ regarding publication:
The speed of turnaround gave me whiplash. I pitched at RWA in August, and submitted the full manuscript in October on a Wednesday late at night. I got an email on Sunday, asking if Escape could take my book to an acquisition meeting the next day. Kate, Managing Editor at Escape, rang at 10am to say they’d agreed to take on my book. My initial thought was “but you haven’t had time to have coffee, let alone make a decision!” 😊
What were your biggest learning experiences or surprises throughout the publishing journey?
Getting ‘the call’ is only the start of the game. Publishing is similar to the queue at the airport. Everyone wants to get through customs to the other side, but once you get there, you realise there are so many more people and they are all going to different places at different speeds.
Looking back, what do you think you did right that helped you break in?
The concept of three female doctors just graduating from medical school in the Victorian era (and based on my own great-grandmother who did this) makes my series appeal to readers who want strong female characters. My writing is quite light-hearted for a fairly serious concept, and maybe that appealed to Escape as it’s a good balance. In the end, it’s the characters that readers fall in love with, regardless of concept or setting, and I hope readers enjoy the different personalities of Josephine, Marie, and Claire as they navigate their world.
Is there anything you wish you could do differently?
Take the time to build a good network within the industry. Because I got published so early in my journey, I’ve had to do much of my learning and networking after my book was already out in the world. I think I missed many marketing opportunities due to the speed.
Best advice you’ve ever been given, or have heard, about writing?
Read.
Any advice for aspiring writers on writing and submitting?
Be resilient and keep going. Keep learning your craft. Listen to people who’ve been in publishing for a long time. Read.
What’s up next for you, and what are you working on now?
I’m writing a contemporary series set in Sydney which is on submission. It’s at the finger’s crossed stage 😊 I’m interested in becoming a hybrid author, and will go down that road with this series if it gets rejected. In terms of historicals, I have two more books to write in the Bluestocking series, and a fun new series idea to explore.
How can people connect with you?
I’m very active on Facebook, otherwise all my information is on my website. I blog quite frequently, and send out a newsletter about twice a year.
Thank you so much Renee for sharing your Path to Publication with us! What a great journey you’ve had, with many more adventures to come. And I must say I’m looking forward to reading your next novel in the Bluestocking Series – and you’re contemporaries sound exciting, so fingers crossed for you.
And for those of you who want to read Renee’s fantastic book ‘The Bluestocking’s Legacy’ just click on the pic below for more info.
‘The Bluestocking’s Legacy’
A modern short story.
Alex St. George can’t live up to his family legacy of academic success. He has turned his disadvantage into a quest for an Olympic medal. When he meets Dr Seo, he realises he can make a difference for other kids.
Dr Seo Yu-jin always wanted to be a sports doctor, until one athlete made her question everything. When she meets Alex St. George, she is reminded of her braver self. Can she confront her fear to create a future with Alex?
Today I chat with the absolutely lovely Amanda Knight, a fellow Australian Author, who shares with us her path to publication. Her novel ‘Situation Critical’ is about to have it’s very first book birthday this April!
I first met Amanda way back in 2010 at the RWA of Australia’s inaugural 5 day Manuscript intensive workshop, and then we touched base again in 2015 at the yearly RWA Australia conference. It was wonderful to reconnect with her, and I think there was something magical in the water at the 2016 conference because since then we’ve both gone on to finally get our debut books published!
And let’s all CONGRATULATE her for being nominated as a finalist in the Australian Romance Readers Awards for 2017, in 4 different categories!! Well done, Amanda, and I’m so excited for you !!
* Favourite New Romance Author (first published 2017)
* Favourite Romantic Suspense
* Strongest Heroine from a Romance Published in 2017
* Favourite Couple from a Romance Published in 2017
Amanda is one of the loveliest Authors you will meet, and I’m so excited to be able to feature her on my website, and share with you all her Path to Publication. So let’s get started!!
How long have you been writing for?
I’ve always written—whether it be angsty teen poetry, short stories, blogs, journals or workplace newsletters… I’ve tried to stop—but I can’t NOT write! My romance writing career started around nine years ago when I’d finished a short story, and wanted to ‘learn’ how to craft a page turner, and to find out whether my manuscript had any potential. After Googling books, courses and everything in-between, I stumbled on Romance Writers of Australia.
I went along to my first conference that same year, and pitched my work to a seasoned editor, who’d asked for the first 5000 words of my manuscript prior to the pitch. The book I pitched was loosely in the genre of thriller with romantic elements (and wasn’t finished!) The editor told me that they felt I was stifling something in my ‘voice’ and perhaps it was romance, to let it ‘flow’ within my work and then send it back for review… I went away, stopped pushing the romance aside (which I’d previously done when those characters screamed at me to include it!) and indeed let it flow… and then I was hooked!
How long did it take you from when you started writing, to when you became a published author?
The next big step along my journey after I decided to get serious, was my selection for the Romance Writers of Australia Inaugural 5 Day Intensive workshop in 2010 (a bit like you Maddy!) That was the catalyst for making me ‘finish’ a book – up until then I’d started plenty, but not finished! (Although that one is in the bottom drawer for now!) As an aside, some of my nearest and dearest friends were forged from that experience!
After 5DI, I dabbled around the edges for the next few years, finalled in a few competitions and then decided enough was enough. I gave myself another swift talking to, which included issuing a self-imposed deadline to finish the book by July 2016, and to pitch the book at the Romance Writers of Australia conference the same year.
Not without hesitation, (many) crises of confidence and a little help from my friends, I did submit the book, and was thrilled when I received the call from Kate Cuthbert at Escape (well, it was an email!) just before Christmas, accepting the manuscript for what is now known as Situation Critical… and the rest, as they say, is history!
Where do you write from, home, office, coffee shop, etc? And do you have any pre-writing or actual writing rituals (such as lighting a candle, listening to music, etc)?
I write in my office, a little ‘study in the cupboard’ and at my desk (where I can close the door when the family are home) or at the dining table (big windows, lots of light) when there’s no one else around. I also write on the train heading into work (that’s usually scribbling ideas in my notebook), at the library when my home is just too busy for concentration, and sometimes, at my local café where the comings and goings become a little like white noise, that somehow helps me immerse in the words. Although, once, I had a fellow guest tap me on the shoulder, and ask if I was alright – I’d been writing a scene where my villain killed someone, and it seems my facial expressions whilst doing so were a little alarming! Perhaps public writing isn’t such a good plan?!
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in-between?
I am definitely somewhere in-between! I used to be an all-out plotter, but found it stifled me creatively. So now, once I have my core idea, and an inkling of my black moment/and or story ending, I spend quite a bit of time ‘listening’ to who my characters are as the initial step, filling in a character bio of sorts (mine is a bit of a combo of the detail in Cherry Adair’s Writer’s Bible, Jami Gold’s Character Worksheets and KM Weiland’s Character Interview with elements of my own thrown in!) I then learn all I can about my characters. I research the specific or unique elements of each of their worlds; see life through their eyes and experiences – a bit of an immersion experience.
Often, I’ll write the first couple of chapters when I’m still in the ‘getting to know the character’ phase, but usually, by the time I’m at chapter four to five-ish, I am fairly well acquainted with my primary characters, and the essential elements of their goals, motivation and conflict. At this stage, I’ll general plot out the main scenes/chapters for the remainder of the book. If I don’t do this, I can end up procrastinating or heading down a rabbit hole that doesn’t end up working!
What is your favourite part of the writing process?
The part when the tiny idea explodes into an amazing array of characters, scenes and an entire storyline emerges – often faster than I can write it down! I love when I am in ‘flow’ and not really even conscious of the twists and turns that fly out of my finger tips (during the planning and the writing…) it’s super exciting. I also love the feeling of reaching the end, although, by then I think I loath and pine for my characters in equal parts!
What is the most important part of a novel to you: plot, characters, or setting?
Each of these is as important to me as the other… I do love intricately woven characters and so, perhaps, that’s a little more important than the other two for me! But only by a smidge.
Describe your writing routine (how long do you spending plotting the novel, time spent writing, editing, submitting it):
Hmmm – that has never been the same! My process now is planning and plotting around four to six weeks. I aim to write five thousand words per week, and give myself four to six months to complete a first draft (depending on the length I’m aiming for). Sometimes, I am able to write the synopsis during this phase, but usually work on that near to the end or when I’m finished. Generally, capturing the tag line and nailing the blurb comes for me after the process. I’d love to sort this earlier, but so far, not a lot of luck! I hold out hope!
I work a full-time job outside of my writing life, and am mum to three children, so I have to be pretty regimented in committing to my writing time, or it just doesn’t happen. At the very least, no matter what kind of day I’ve had, or how tired I am, I force myself to write 500 words a day, and have one day dedicated to reaching at least a 2k word count. I aim for 5k per week, at the very least. I find if I miss a few daily sessions, I lose my mojo, and can then go a number of weeks without writing a thing – super dangerous! So have learned I must make that 500 words happen EVERY day!
How many books a year do you usually write (or are you aiming to write):
One per year at this stage but would really like to make that two, or even a full length and novella. That’s my next goal!
How did you get your publishing contract?
I pitched to the editor at the Romance Writers of Australia conference in 2016, and on request, submitted my full manuscript including cover letter and synopsis.
How did you cope with rejection during the querying process?
It’s an awful feeling, so I do allow myself a bit of a boo-hoo… and then take the time to review the feedback objectively, decide which parts are a great opportunity for improvement or a different way of thinking, and if there’s anything that I don’t agree with… that’s okay too.
Describe the time when you got ‘the call’ regarding publication:
I was knee deep in a time sensitive project at my day job, had ducked up the road for a coffee and loaded my personal emails… I think I might have gasped really loudly, and then actually, found myself in this weird state of wondering if the words I’d read were actually what they said they were! I immediately called my fabulous crit partner (and the person who’d most closely travelled this journey with me!) and I think she screamed, and cried… and then it kicked in! I shook, cried, laughed, gasped and overall, couldn’t quite believe it! AND then, I had to go back to work, and deliver to my deadline (was super hard, was so distracted!) I saved all the celebrating and absolute excitement for after that! It is such a surreal feeling to finally achieve what I’d been striving for, for so long!
What were your biggest learning experiences or surprises throughout the publishing journey?
Time… and how quickly you have to move once it’s a ‘yes.’ Editing and all the tasks needed to have your book reach its audience happen at warp speed compared to everything that’s gone before! Also, the amount of dedicated time needed for promotions – this is a definite to be factored into the planning!
Looking back, what do you think you did right that helped you break in?
Perseverance… you can’t give up, you really have to want this and keep at it. Listen, learn and be respectful. Take advice, consider it – there’s always something new to experience and learn, that may help you hone your craft. Behave like a published author, remain professional at all times and remember that sometimes it’s a long game, and who you are at the beginning, middle and end matters.
Is there anything you wish you could do differently?
Get serious, without compromise, sooner!
Best advice you’ve ever been given, or have heard, about writing?
Keep writing; keep submitting… stay true to your voice and your story. Your story will find a place, when it’s the right place to find. J K Rowling said, “Sometimes you have to get your writing done in spare moments here and there.” It’s so true – life is there, and you have to do what you can to keep moving forward… don’t let excuses get in the way! Read – often and widely! Super important…
Any advice for aspiring writers on writing and submitting?
DON’T give up… be curious – read craft books, listen to podcasts, ready other writers journey stories… there IS a place for you. Sometimes, the road is long and hard, but you WILL move forward… follow the rules when submitting – anything can happen after!
What advice can you give to other writers on building a platform and gaining a readership base?
Behave like you’re already published… follow and help other writers, join relevant groups, spent time in reader environments (volunteer to help!) and become a great advocate within these environments for when your time comes… be kind and respectful, these people WILL remember!
What’s up next for you, and what are you working on now?
Thank you so much for your support, time and such a comprehensive interview Maddison! And to all the writers who’ve not yet achieved their dream – whatever that is, keep going… every step forward, is a step!
Thank you so much Amanda for sharing your Path to Publication with us! What an awesome journey, with many more adventures to come. I cannot wait to read more of your books – and that Christmas novel sounds great (after all I just love a side of suspense)!!
And for those of you who want to read Amanda’s fantastic book ‘Situation Critical’ just click on the pic below for more info.
‘Situation Critical’
A taut debut novel about a wounded soldier, a courageous doctor, and a dog in desperate need of a rescue.
Soldier, surgeon, traitor, dog…
When Sergeant Nate Calloway is carried into the field hospital with no memory of how he got there or where the other members of his unit are, Australian army surgeon, Captain Beth Harper cares only about repairing his broken body. But it’s clear that something went terribly wrong on the other side of the wire, and as Nate slowly recovers, he becomes more and more anxious to return to duty, go back into the field, and rescue his friends, his unit, and the bomb detection dog that he loves.
The only way Nate can be released to active duty is if a doctor agrees to accompany him, and Beth surprises everyone by volunteering. Her role is to monitor Nate and take him right back to hospital the instant that his health deteriorates enough to put their rescue operation at risk. But as she stays close, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to his courage, his determination, and his commitment to his fellow soldiers.
Instead of a straightforward recovery, however, Nate and Beth soon realise they’ve stumbled on a tangled web of deceit and danger, and the enemy is no longer outside the wire. He is one of their own, a traitor, and he has them in his scope.
About Amanda:
Raised in suburban Sydney, as a child, Amanda loved to escape the bright lights and bustle, and visit the home of her mother’s rural roots, deep in Sydney’s Blue Mountains or historical Bathurst, the dusty cattle country her father’s family hails from. The ramshackle farmhouses, and wonderfully unique characters (both animal and human!) along with paddocks fringed with mysterious bushland, provided an endless canvas of sensory delights, and unending fodder for her writerly imagination … and still does!
Intrigued by the machinations that motivate human behaviour, particularly crime, for as long as she can remember, and a little partial to a man in uniform, it seemed only natural Amanda study psychology and marry said man in uniform!
When she’s not writing about psychopaths, soldiers and police officers, or love and loss in small town communities, Amanda fills her cup in the field of people and culture development.
Amanda resides in a beautiful beachside suburb in Sydney with her husband and children, a cranky (but still lovable) Ragdoll cat, and the most gorgeous Golden Retriever dog that ever lived.
Today I chat with the lovely Negeen Papehn, the debut author of ‘Forbidden By Faith’, who shares with us her path to publication. Her debut ‘Forbidden By Faith’ is scheduled for release on February 20th 2018!
Born and raised in California, Negeen spends half her week dreaming up stories between lovers and the other half as a dentist. FORBIDDEN BY FAITH, set in Los Angeles, is a Contemporary Romance that encompasses the journey of self-discovery, while battling family and cultural expectations, in the name of true love.
Hi Negeen, I’m so excited to have you on my blog, and thank you so much for sharing your ‘Path to Publication’ experience with us all. I know so many of my readers will love to hear about how you went from an aspiring author to a published one, and many will gather inspiration from the journey!
Thanks Maddison! I’m very excited to be here with all of you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story.
How long have you been writing for?
I’ve been writing in some form since I was a teenager. Back then, I wrote a lot of poetry and even a handful of original songs. But the novel writing is relatively new. I started about four years ago.
How long did it take you from when you started writing, to when you became a published (or soon to be) published author?
It took me a year to finish my first novel then another year to find representation. By the time the book is released in February, it will be almost three years, start to finish.
Where do you write from, home, office, coffee shop, etc? And do you have any pre-writing or actual writing rituals (such as lighting a candle, listening to music, etc)?
I literally write everywhere! I never have mapped out writing time, but rather, I write in small sprints. Usually thirty minutes to an hour before an interruption, if I’m lucky. So wherever I am and I can get a moment to write, I do. But mostly, you’ll find me at my desk in the spare bedroom or the dining room table if I’m at home, at my desk in my office if I’m at work, or at the local coffee shop. No matter where I am, though, I always have my headphones in and music blasting. It’s the only way I can block out the world around me. And it also helps set the mood for the scene, so I strategically pick the playlist.
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in-between?
I am a pantser to a fault. I wish I was a plotter. I’ve tried to write it all out, create a step-by-step outline, but once I start writing, the story changes course and veers off in directions I wasn’t anticipating. The problem that arises with that is that I get stuck a lot, trying to plot my way out of a hole I’ve written myself into, LOL.
What is your favourite part of the writing process?
My favorite part of the writing process is when my manuscript is ready for the first round of beta readers. I love sharing my work with people. Hearing their reactions and listening to their responses is my drug of choice. I just love picking their brains! And it doesn’t have to just be praise. I welcome their constructive criticism as well. Makes the story better, and makes me a better writer.
What is the most important part of a novel to you: plot, characters, or setting?
Definitely characters. In my opinion, they’re what create the story. If they are complicated, emotional, raw, and real, you could have any plot or any setting and your readers will still be invested. Or at least that’s how I feel.
Describe your writing routine (how long do you spending plotting the novel, time spent writing, editing, submitting it):
Hmmm….I don’t have this down to an exact science yet. I spend the least amount of time plotting, which may be one of my weakness, truthfully. Reason why I end up lost at times and stuck on the storyline. It usually takes me a week or so to work out the basics on the plot.
I’ve written two full novels so far and am on my third. I’d say on average it takes me anywhere from 8-12 months to write the first draft.
Editing is the longest of the processes and most complicated for me. I usually have my critique partners reading along with me as I write, and edit throughout the process. Then once the first draft is completely done, I do a read through myself and try to catch any plot holes/issues I may have missed. Then I give it to the first round of betas. I take their feedback and make changes based on what I see fit. Then another round of new betas. Last read through on my end and edits. Then I’m ready to submit.
I’ve only submitted one novel so far. The entire submission process took around six months. I sent it to about 20 agents/editors. The first response came about a month later. Some were outright rejections, others requested fulls. Took another few months before I heard anything from those. In April of 2016, City Owl Press made me an offer.
How many books a year do you usually write (or are you aiming to write):
I write one book a year. I’m usually editing the book from the previous year simultaneously. I’d really like to be able to have two manuscripts completed in a year, at some point.
How did you get your agent, or your publishing contract (if applicable)?
I came across City Owl Press one night after the sting of the most recent round of rejections was fresh, and the wine wasn’t helping, LOL. I started researching agents and publishers to gather a new set of people to send submissions out to and came across their site. I liked what I saw and sent my submission late that evening. A few weeks later, my editor Amanda reached out and asked for a full MS. A few months passed and I didn’t hear anything. I’d given up hope. One morning, as I was getting ready for work, an email popped up on my phone screen. I took the ever dreaded deep breath to prepare myself for yet another “thanks but no thanks,” but when I opened it, her first line read, “Sorry it took me so long to get back to you but I have good news, City Owl Press would like to publish your novel!” I just started screaming from the bathroom, which brought my husband running because he thought something had happened. I was jumping up and down squealing when he got there.
How did you cope with rejection during the querying process?
Friends. I made some author friends in various social media outlets that were going through the same thing so we coped together. I also had family and friends in my personal life that kept encouraging me forward despite the fact that there were times I really wanted to give up. So I had an awesome support system. I wouldn’t have made it this far without them.
Describe the time when you got ‘the call’ regarding publication:
My ‘call’ was actually an email. My editor lives overseas, so the email came in at some ungodly hour. I think it was like 2AM my time, or something like that. I was obviously asleep being that it was a Thursday J So I saw it pop up on my phone when I went to turn my alarm off. I didn’t immediately look at it, preparing myself for the worse. I’d already gotten a handful of rejections at that point, and was assuming it was just more of the same. I got my kids up and ready for school. When I finally made it to my bathroom to start putting myself together for work, I couldn’t resist any longer. I took a deep breath and opened the email. My eyes scanned the first two lines quickly, bracing myself for the disappointment that I’d become accustomed to. But instead of ‘thanks but no thanks,’ it was ‘thanks and we want you.’ I started screaming, which brought my husband running, thinking something terrible had happened. I was squealing and jumping up and down when I told him the news. Then I sent a text message to my family, spent my forty-minute drive to work on the phone with my sister-in-law, and then blabbed it to my boss and all my co-workers. It was definitely a good day 🙂
Can you describe what your own path to publication was like?
My path to publication felt like a whirlwind. It moved at light speed from getting my first draft completed, to submitting and getting a publishing deal. It all happened so fast that I still have a hard time believing it!
It took me one year to finish the manuscript, another year to do multiple rounds of edits utilizing my beta readers and critique partners. Then, about six months after submitting, I received my publishing deal.
What were your biggest learning experiences or surprises throughout the publishing journey?
The people that have been alongside me through this journey are amazing. I’ve made so many fabulous author friends. I never expected to make so many connections and find so much support in the writing community.
Looking back, what do you think you did right that helped you break in?
Honestly, I think timing really is what did it for me. I wrote a story about a very touchy subject, at a time in this country where very touchy subjects were rearing their ugly heads. I caught a lot of attention that way, and rather quickly. So I don’t think I personally did anything special. I think that the timing was just right.
Best advice you’ve ever been given, or have heard, about writing?
“No matter what happens, you’ve already won.” My boss said that to me. He’s one of my biggest fans. I was having a panic attack over covers and marketing and the idea that this whole thing will flop because I make the wrong choice on color or don’t know how to get the word out there correctly, etc. I was freaking out about failing. He said, “The reason why you were able to go through this entire process so quickly is because you were fierce. You didn’t start this thinking you’d become some big famous author. You told me you did this because you wanted to and you loved it. And because of that you had nothing to lose; you were fearless. Don’t you see, you’ve already won? This has become so much more than you ever imagined. Remember that. Hold onto that. You can’t fail.”
I repeat it like a mantra when I’m having the many panic attacks I have over this whole thing, LOL.
Any advice for aspiring writers on writing and submitting?
Hang in there. It’s a bumpy road, I won’t lie. But stay determined and keep going because amongst the rejections, you will get that call.
What advice can you give to other writers on building a platform and gaining a readership base?
Put yourself out there as much as you can. It’s tough manning all the different social media platforms and making a presence. It almost feels like a full time job! But I have found quite a few author friends and a fabulous support team, so it’s well worth it.
What’s up next for you, and what are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the second book in the Forbidden Love Series. I’m also getting ready to start submitting my stand alone novel, What Will Be, for representation.
Thank you so much for interviewing me! I hope my answers help other author’s forging on their own path to publication.
Thank you so much Negeen for sharing your Path to Publication with us! What an awesome journey, with many more adventures to come. Good luck with your release of ‘Forbidden By Faith’ – can’t wait to have a read 🙂
And for those of you who want to have a read of Negeen’s awesome book ‘Forbidden By Faith’, it’s scheduled for release on Feb 20th, 2018. Click on the pic below for more info.
‘Forbidden by Faith’
Sara knows her life would be easier if she married a Muslim man, but when has love ever been easy?
Raised by her immigrant Iranian Muslim parents, she’s been taught that a good daughter makes decisions based on her family’s approval, and she’s spent most of her life doing just that. Then one night, she meets Maziar, and her world is turned upside down. She feels an instant electricity between them, and it seems like fate when he tells her he’s also Iranian. Just as her mind begins to soar with the possibilities, he shatters her hopes when he tells her he’s Jewish.
Despite the centuries of unrest behind them, Sara and Maziar embark on a forbidden love affair, attempting to navigate through the cultural and religious prejudices that beat them down and attempt to tear them apart.
Deep within the trenches of her battle, Sara finds herself more empowered and careless than ever before. Angry at and disappointed by the people she’s idolized all her life, she’s determined to forge her own path. But choosing who to be could mean creating a life that’s no longer acceptable to those around her.
Sara feels herself growing into an independent and confident woman, but will it be worth the ultimate cost: her family?
About Negeen:
Negeen Papehn was born and raised in southern California, where she currently lives with her husband and two rambunctious boys. She wasn’t always a writer. A graduate of USC dental school, Negeen spends half of her week with patients and the other half in front of her laptop. In the little time she finds in between, she loves to play with her boys, go wine tasting with her friends, throw parties, and relax with her family.
Her debut novel FORBIDDEN BY FAITH will be out with City Owl Press February of 2018
Today I chat with the lovely Michelle Somers, author of the ‘Lethal in Love‘ series.
Michelle Somers is a bookworm from way back. An ex-Kiwi who now calls Australia home, she’s a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she’ll put them through one hell of a journey to get there.
Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making. And a furry feline called Emerald.
Michelle thank you so much for coming on my blog and sharing your ‘Path to Publication’ experience with us all. I know so many of my readers will love to hear about how you went from an aspiring author to a mulit-published one, and many will gather inspiration from your journey!
Hi Maddison. Thanks so much for having me. I’m always happy to talk about my favourite topic – writing. Only problem is, once I start, it’s near impossible to get me to stop! That said, I promise not to go too crazy today 🙂
Well let’s get started then!
How long have you been writing for?
I’ve always written. As a kid I tinkered in poetry and short stories. In later years, my poems and stories became longer, more complex, more meaningful.
Writing was always a way of expressing emotions that often left me feeling way out of my depth. I’d write when I was happy, when I was down. When things were going right, and when things had me feeling lost and alone and floundering for control – the whole gamut of teenage hormones, fuelling a creativity I didn’t realise would one day become my passion J
However, it wasn’t until seven years ago, when my youngest child started kinder, that I started writing seriously. I’d always wanted to see if my stories had an audience, but one thing held me back – confidence.
I had little faith in my ability, never believed I was good enough or had something worthwhile to say. I was so worried about what others would think about me and my writing, I didn’t realise I should have focused on what I thought instead. On what made me happy, and what I wanted to do more than anything else.
I was well into my 40s (yikes!) when I found the courage to write in earnest, and write something for eyes other than my own.
For me, it wasn’t a matter of ‘when I began to write’, but more about ‘when I was ready to share the news with others’. It took me months to admit to my nearest and dearest – my husband, my closest friends – that I was writing with a hope toward publication.
Revealing those earliest hopes was scary as hell. Yet I did it. I shared my dreams, faced those who questioned my choice of writing romance over a ‘real book’. And I faced my own insecurities over something I’d hidden for so long – my love for romance.
It took a lot of nail biting and deep breaths, but I did it. I leapt out of the closet, and not once have I never looked back 🙂
How long did it take you from when you started writing, to when you became a published (or soon to be) published author?
It took me about five years and five unpublishable manuscripts before I found my niche and became published.
I started out by writing what I thought people would want to read. I tried to emulate authors I admired, tried to write to a particular line, and every bit of feedback I received was that I had a strong voice but I wasn’t quite ‘there’ with the story and storytelling.
So, I kept at it, read craft books, attended workshops and conferences, gobbled up any and all feedback I received, and worked at strengthening my weaknesses. I soon discovered the value of strong characters and solid conflicts. I learned about character arc and story arc, and how to show not tell.
And I learned the subtlety of deep point of view.
Then, after typing ‘the end’ for the fifth time and receiving yet another rejection, I threw caution to the wind and wrote the story I wanted to write. A story I knew I’d want to read.
This wasn’t category romance. It wasn’t sexy or contemporary. It was suspense, intermingled with the heat of romance. And I loved every minute in front of the keyboard, creating twists and turns that became Jayda and Seth’s story.
I entered competitions, and – OMG! – I began placing. Then I began winning. And at that moment, I knew I’d found home.
My debut novel, Lethal in Love, was released in July 2015. And since then, I’ve never looked back, and never wondered ‘what if?’, I’ve just jumped two feet in and written what makes me happy and the kind of books I know I’d like to read.
Where do you write from, home, office, coffee shop, etc? And do you have any pre-writing or actual writing rituals (such as lighting a candle, listening to music, etc)?
I don’t have a dedicated area (much as I’d love one!). My go-to place for writing tends to be the living room couch, usually with Emmie – my little black cat who thinks she’s a dog – beside me. I can only concentrate when there’s complete silence, and usually make myself a cup of tea before I start, which I usually drink cold, because I get so engrossed in writing, I forget it’s sitting there until I’m ready to take a break.
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or somewhere in-between?
I’m a plantser – a mixture of plotter and pantser – with a splash of scener in the mix. When I begin thinking about a new story or series, certain scenes come to me, in bright technicolour. These are often pivotal moments in my story, but how I get from one to the next is completely unplanned.
For example, my second novel, Murder Most Unusual, was born from a picture that popped into my head – a picture that became the beginnings of the opening scene.
In my mind I saw a woman in a large paddock, in the dark, on the first dry night after weeks of non-stop rain. She was struggling with something, her body all covered in mud. What was it? Why was she there? Then I sensed movement in the distance. Who had followed my heroine, only to watch and wait in the shadows? And what was his plan?
This scene, these and a long list of other such questions, formed the bones of what soon became Stacey and Chase’s story.
What is your favourite part of the writing process?
Pretty much every part! But seriously, if I had to choose, I’d say editing. I love taking a first draft and turning it into something amazing. I get to deepen the characters, their goals, motivations and conflicts, and I get to inject more action, suspense and emotion into the story.
It’s like an artist who starts with an outline only to add light and shade, colour and contrast, depth and feeling to make a two-dimensional idea leap off the canvas and come to life.
What is the most important part of a novel to you: plot, characters, or setting?
Wow, tough question!
Each one of these is important, but for very different reasons. But, if I really had to choose, I’d have to say characters.
I believe a story is only as strong, rich and believable as its characters. As writers, our characters should have lives that span beyond the pages of a book. They should have a past – events and experiences that define and shape them – a present – where they stand physically and emotionally at the onset of the story – and a future – where they will ultimately end up once they’ve grown and learned and reached their full potential through the lessons and loopholes we’ve forced them to navigate.
Solid, three-dimensional characters should drive both the plot and story forward. They should leap from the page, and they should be so believable that the reader can imagine them in real life. We want to elicit strong emotional responses from our readers. We want them to love our protagonists, want to be them, or be their best friend. Our antagonists should be detested, resented or even feared.
But regardless of the response they evoke, our characters should live on in the reader’s mind long after they’ve turned the very last page of our book.
Describe your writing routine (how long do you spending plotting the novel, time spent writing, editing, submitting it):
I don’t tend to plot. I usually start with a few pivotal turning point scenes, as I mentioned before, and these are what spark me to begin a new story. With these clear in my mind – often the opening scene and maybe one or two later scenes – I put fingertips to keys and begin to type. Once I start writing, my characters tend to drive the story. They often decide what will happen next and where they are headed, and I’m merely the conduit – the medium who commits their story to the page.
And what I love most about this process is my character’s ability to both shock and surprise me. I’ll be writing and suddenly the unexpected will hit, and I’m left thinking ‘Wow, I so did not see that coming!’ Hopefully that means the readers will be left thinking the exact same thing 🙂
A novel can take me up to a year to write. Once I’ve finished the first draft, I’ll read it through and make any changes or additions I feel are necessary before setting it aside for a minimum of a few weeks. In that time I’ll start something else. When I pick the old manuscript up again, I am able to look at it with fresh eyes, making it easier to identify plot holes and inconsistencies. I analyse my characters’ GMCs (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) and their growth, and make sure every one of their actions and reactions is consistent with who they are on the page.
This is also the time I check for ‘show don’t tell’ and deep point of view. I check for cadence and active rather than passive writing. I try to cut superfluous words, pare back my sentences and up the pace.
Once I’m happy with the finished product, I send this draft to beta readers who know nothing about the story or characters in the hope they’ll identify any problems I may have missed. Then I do another round of edits, tweak and deepen until I’m happy before sending the story to my editor.
Any problems she finds are fixed, I tweak and cut and deepen some more, then I’m either ready to submit or to format and self-publish.
And then the process starts again, with a new story and new set of characters.
How many books a year do you usually write (or are you aiming to write):
I’m a pretty slow writer, so I tend to release one book a year.
That said, last year I released two book, one fiction (Murder Most Unusual) and one non-fiction (the first in my Simply Writing Series, Simply Synopsis), plus a time travel short story that was released as part of a romance anthology.
How did you get your agent, or your publishing contract?
I’m a member of Romance Writers of Australia (RWA) and was fortunate to pitch Lethal in Love at their annual conference in Sydney in 2014. I pitched to four agents/editors and received four requests. One of these requests was from Penguin Random House, where editor Lex Hirst pitched an idea back to me – the idea of releasing my story as a six-part serial.
The idea of Lethal in Love being part of a new line and format appealed to me, so within a very short span of time I found myself signing up and embarking on a journey that led to the release of my baby as a six-part serial romantic suspense with Penguin Random House.
If you are hybrid/Indie published – can you explain the process you took to become independently published?
For my second book I made the tough decision to go indie. At the time I finished Murder Most Unusual, Penguin Random House was in a state of flux. Within the publishing house there was a lot of movement and uncertainty, and they couldn’t commit to anything until things settled down. I decided not to wait – my main motivator? I wanted my book in print on the shelves of a bookstore.
So I began the process toward self-publication. I found a group of beta-readers and edited the crap out of my story. Next I found an editor, a formatter and a cover designer. I beat the story into shape, found a printer for my paperbacks, and online distributors for my digital versions.
One thing I discovered as I embarked on my indie journey is that it isn’t as easy as it may seem from the outside looking in. I have a newfound respect for successful, multi-published indie authors. Every step of the process must be managed and coordinated, with no publisher there to foot the bill or do all the hard legwork.
And as I began, I discovered how much I didn’t know and how many things it would be so easy to overlook if I wasn’t lucky enough to be part of two amazing groups of authors who had undertaken that journey multiple times before – these groups were RWA and the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild. I can’t count the number of times I posted in the private Facebook groups or emailed particular members/friends with panicky ‘help!’ messages and ‘what do I do next?’ type questions only to be supplied with not only the answers but offers of assistance.
I count myself fortunate to be part of such a generous, giving group of people – the romance writing community. And I can’t stress strongly enough to other would-be writers how important it is to find your tribe before embarking on this writing gig. One day those wonderful people will become both your saviours and your sanity.
How did you cope with rejection during the querying process?
I’m not great at taking rejection. I’m one of those ‘heart-on-the-sleeve’ people who take any form of feedback very, very personally.
That said, I’m a firm believer in taking a step back and allowing time to ease the pain. I read the rejection and put it aside until the initial sting subsides. After time, whether that be days, or even longer, I pick it up again to see what advice – if any – has been provided.
If an agent/editor has taken the time to provide feedback – a very rare occurrence these days – then I would label this as a ‘good rejection’. I’d take it as a sign I was moving in the right direction and that the agent/editor has seen potential in my work and wanted to give an indication of where my writing was lacking so I know what craft skills to work on for my next submission.
So, I’d do just that. Attack that weakness, and work my butt off until it became a strength. Then with my next story, I’d start the writing and submission process again.
Describe the time when you got ‘the call’ regarding publication:
I just love call stories!
My ‘call story’ was a little different, in that it started out as a series of emails. As I mentioned earlier, I pitched my book at an RWA conference in Sydney, and one of the agents who requested a partial of my manuscript was Lex Hirst from Penguin Random House.
After a mega-edit session of my final draft, I composed my covering email, attached a synopsis and partial of my story and hit send. I did this on a Friday afternoon. Twenty-four hours later I had a response sitting in my inbox. Lex had read my partial, loved it and she wanted to see the full.
With my heart cautiously happy dancing in my chest, I attached the full manuscript and proceeded to bite my nails profusely. Within a week I had a letter of offer, and then within a month the contract was signed and I could let my heart happy dance for real.
What were your biggest learning experiences or surprises throughout the publishing journey?
Everyone’s publishing journey has both highs and not-so-highs. Mine was no different.
I landed an amazing editor. I’d heard so many stories of authors working with editors who wanted to change their story so much they barely recognised it when it was done. My experience was nothing like this.
Lex was a wonder to work with – she had a real sense of my story and what I needed to do to make it stronger. Our relationship was a collaboration – Lethal in Love was my baby, but she seemed as connected to the story and characters as I was. It helped that she’d loved the story since the moment I’d pitched it to her.
It was great being able to sit back and let the experts work on publishing my book. With my input we created an author bio and blurb. A set of six covers were designed. There were press releases and blog tours.
And when I attended the next RWA conference, this time in Melbourne, I was presented with my first sale ribbon by none other than Graeme Simsion. That was a definite high 🙂
Penguin Random House managed all the hard stuff, but there was a downside. I didn’t get as much input into my covers as I’d have liked, and I didn’t get a paperback. Lethal in Love was released as a digital first and it never made it to print – something I’d love to rectify in the future.
Yet, this low was well out-weighed by one high in particular – a year after release, Lethal in Love won RWA’s Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY) Award for long romance. And that very same weekend, Penguin Random House rereleased my story as one complete ebook.
And another high? Standing next to the lovely Rachel Johns after we were both awarded a RuBY; Rachel in the romantic elements category for her novel The Patterson Girls, and me in the long romance category for my romantic suspense novel Lethal in Love.
I can definitely say the surprises in my journey were made up of more highs than lows. And every one is a moment I’ll cherish.
Looking back, what do you think you did right that helped you break in?
Ever since I decided that romance was my genre of choice, I began seeking feedback and guidance from authors more experienced than myself. I joined the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild (MRWG), a face-to-face critique group, and entered as many writing competitions as I could find. I took note of every piece of feedback, and if I received similar comments from different sources, I researched the craft involved and worked at improving.
And I found a mentor. Several, actually. I listened to what they had to say and then put every bit of their advice into practice.
Mentor Valerie Parv AM
I worked hard, wrote heaps and never gave up. And, thankfully, my determination and perseverance paid off 🙂
Is there anything you wish you could do differently?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But I try not to dwell on regrets.
Saying that, one thing I’d like to do with my next series that I didn’t do with my first is find an agent before looking for a publisher. I’d love to find an advocate for my stories who can find a great home, hopefully in the US.
Best advice you’ve ever been given, or have heard, about writing?
That’s such a huge topic, with so much scope, it’s hard to know what to pick.
I think one of the most important and most valuable pieces of advice for me was to write from within my characters.
When I first began writing, I viewed my characters from the outside in. They were removed from me, from my thoughts, my experiences. And they were very much fiction. It took many months of writing and the guidance of a mentor to help me see the value of stepping inside my characters.
I began to put myself in their place. Don their skin, their mind, their thoughts, their experiences.
I walked the journey that is their story in their shoes. Stepped right inside to write from within their experience. And wrote from within mine.
I created characters who were so real they felt like the closest of friends or the foulest of enemies, and hoped they were as real for my readers as they were for me.
What advice can you give to other writers on building a platform and gaining a readership base?
Build your brand from the moment you begin writing. Work out who you are as an author, what kind of stories you want to write and what kind of readers will want to read your stories. Then build a social media platform based on these three things.
Start collecting email addresses of people you believe would be interested in your stories. Design a newsletter and create a following. You don’t need to send it out too frequently before you’re published, but it’s great if you do begin to send it out.
Include content relevant to your brand. Content readers of your stories will find interesting and engaging. Find a point of difference to make it unique.
And most importantly, never stop writing stories people will love. That’s what will win and keep your readership returning.
What’s up next for you, and what are you working on now?
I have a few projects on the go at the moment. I’m working on a new romantic suspense series set in Chicago – a kind of James Bond meets Stephanie Plum type story. I’m also working on a Christmas novella featuring a bee expert and a small-town sheriff to be included in a box set in 2018. And I’m in the planning stages of the second book in my Simply Writing Series, called Simply Characters.
Lots of exciting stuff on the boil – I just have to survive the school holidays so I can get stuck in!
How can people connect with you?
You can find me pretty much everywhere 🙂
The first port of call is my website at www.michelle-somers.com where you can sign up for my newsletter, keep up-to-date with news and events, and read my blogroll (I don’t have a blog right now, but I’m a real blog-hopper – yep, I get around 🙂
I have an interview that aired on Wyn FM earlier this year. So, if you’d like to hear more about me and my journey to publication, have a listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyTvXu0jZIU
Just one thing for those aspiring writers out there working toward publication . . .
Never give up. If writing is your passion, if you have stories in your head and your characters won’t let you rest, work hard and find a way to make it happen. Learn the craft, talk to other more experienced writers and make every story you write better than the last. If you aspire and learn and grow, just as your characters, you will succeed. And believe me, the end goal is definitely worth the journey 🙂
Thanks Maddison for hosting me on your blog. It’s been a blast. Wishing you and your followers a happy, healthy and humungous new year for 2018.
Thanks for being here Michelle – I loved chatting to you about your Path to Publication, and I know my readers will too! Can’t wait to read your new romantic suspense series when it comes out!