As I've stated before I'm an indie author, but I originally
didn't start out that way. My first book Going Home Again was traditionally published,
and today I’ll be talking about my journey to get published.
After graduating from college in the winter of 2008 I began
writing Going Home Again and by June 09 it was finished. Then came the query
process, which was a hassle because each publisher had different guidelines.
Some wanted the entire manuscript, while other only asked for the first three
chapters. And most of them had a specific format for the manuscript, for
example one publisher wanted the font to be 14 pt and in Arial along with
double spacing. So at times I had to tweak the manuscript to fit their
preferences.
I researched and emailed numerous companies only to receive
rejections, however in October my luck turned around when I was offered a
contract with Romance Divine. Now, I admit I was a bit naïve when it came to
the publishing process. I thought it’d be like it was in the movies: get a book
deal and the publisher does all the promotion. Boy was I wrong.
The manuscript needed some tuning and with the help and
patience of my editor Gregory Causey, I spent the next three months revising
the book. We went through the editing
process at least three times, but in the end it was worth it.
After a year a hard work and dedication, Going Home Again
was released in February 2010. As an author there’s no greater feeling than
seeing your book come to life. However, I didn’t have much time to bask in the
happiness because I had to promote my work. In the beginning, I slacked off a
bit, but over the years I’ve improved my promotional skills and racked up
plenty of reviews, interviews, and guest blogs.
Even though I love being an indie author, I'm thankful I began my career with a traditional publisher. It opened my eyes to the business and how hard it is for writers. I also learned about the importance of editing and promotion, something I keep in mind as I move forward on my journey as a writer.
