When it was clear to me that I was going to make a serious attempt at this writing gig, I attended my first writing conference. The strongest message I received about the craft of writing right out the door was show don’t tell. And even though, in my past life as a middle school teacher, I posted writer’s quotes to that effect on my dry erase board for my students, it was still a little confusing. The one I best remember was by Mark Twain—“Don’t say the old lady screamed, bring her on and let her scream.”
I’d like to say I marched right onto the conference campus, confident in my future success. But the truth was, I resembled a scared little mouse afraid of her own shadow. Everything I’d learned about writing at that point was from reading books by authors like Sue Grafton, John Grisham, Nora Roberts and Jodi Picoult. So when I submitted my first piece for feedback, I learned that I didn’t know any of the “rules.” Rules that my aforementioned mentors didn’t bother to follow—because they didn’t have to. They could write pages and pages of narrative and even switch points of view in a single scene and no one was calling them on the carpet. Do you know why? Because they were best-selling authors who didn’t need to find an agent or publisher interested in their work.
And as the face of publishing has drastically changed over the last eleven years, which is when I attended that first conference, there are more writers out there competing for a limited number of readers, because anyone can get self-published if they so desire. The competition could be a little daunting (and to be honest, it hits me about 2:00 in the morning when I stare at the ceiling paralyzed with doubts on occasion) but I’m learning a few things in my sage old age.
First off, I will never be a Sue Grafton or Nora Roberts and that’s okay. God has shaped me to write what I write for Him, not for personal gain. Secondly, I am grateful to have an awesome publisher (Celebrate Lit) who believes in me. Owner Sandy Barela couldn’t be more encouraging and supportive and she’s given me the opportunity to fulfill a life-long dream. Thirdly, I love writing because I love story. I get bogged down with the marketing and promoting end of the business and it can feel overwhelming at times—especially since the more I learn the more I realize I don’t know! But when I can get lost in a character so deeply that I actually cry when she cries, then I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do. It brings me such joy, I can’t wait to share it with you.
With that said (yes, this could have been shorter, but I’m a writer), I’m happy to reveal the book cover for my upcoming novel Illusions. If you’ve been following me on Facebook, you know it’s scheduled to release in April. It’s a little bolder than was the cover for Surrendered, but the cover artist did a beautiful job blending the elements so that the reader will recognize that it’s part of a series—a series of three. That’s right, I’m working on the edits for book three right now, which will be due to my publisher on May 1st, scheduled to release the following April. Hopefully, you’ll stick with me until then, because I’ve already got the makings for second series dancing around in my mind. This one will take place in Tennessee. Stay tuned!
Comments 1
I can’t wait for your next book.