How to be an Overnight Success

Success means different things to different people. When I first dreamed of being a novelist, I was reading authors like Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts. I remember when I was pregnant with my daughter, who is now 32, I read an article about Danielle Steel. She had seven children at the time, and had a full-time nanny so she could spend her days writing. I couldn’t imagine having a full time anything then, and it seemed so glamourous. She is considered one of the top four all-time romance novelists with over 800 million copies sold.

However, Steel’s life reads like one of her romantic dramas: she has nine children; married and divorced five times—once to a prison inmate after his parole, who was later incarcerated again for robbery and rape; and her marriages were one right after the other. Of course, when I was young, I saw what her publicists wanted her fans to see—a talented writer easily juggling family and fame. Sadly, it was a smoke screen. 

Another writer I was familiar with was Debbie Macomber. She and Danielle Steel are about the same age. Debbie has been married once—to her high school sweetheart, Wayne. They have four children. She is also a successful romance writer. Many of her books were turned into television movies, and her Cedar Cove series was picked up for television and starred Andie McDowell. Her latest novel, Cottage by the Sea, comes out on July 17th.

I personally know much more about Debbie because she was the keynote speaker at the very first writer’s conference I attended. I walked into that conference feeling inadequate and unprepared. I couldn’t even say I was a writer, because I felt like a big, fat fraud. Debbie, as the keynote speaker, was definitely God-appointed. The title of her address was How to Become an Overnight Success in Twenty Years, and after listening to her for three nights, I called my husband from the conference and said, “I’m a writer.” She inspired me to persevere even when it seemed impossible. Her vulnerability and warmth touched my heart and my soul.

A few weeks ago, I was searching for additional authors to invite into my Summer Series and I came upon Debbie’s website. I thought about that conference (ten years ago) and how instrumental it was for me. Not just the conference, but Debbie’s words of encouragement. She struggled hugely, overcoming what seemed like insurmountable obstacles because she believed God meant for her to be a writer. Like me, she had a wonderfully supportive husband who sacrificed so Debbie could write. 

I found her contact form and wrote to her. I thanked her for her words of encouragement and shared a very small part of my own journey. After I hit the send button, I didn’t think much more about it. She’s a very busy woman, and I hoped my email would reach her, but I certainly didn’t expect a response.

Until I received a card in the mail from her. 

Not a little postcard but a rather large Dayspring card (Hallmark’s Christian line—because when you care to send the very best, you send Hallmark). Sorry, but I can’t even pick up a Hallmark card without hearing their motto in my head. Anyway, she wrote a very sweet note in the card and asked me to keep her informed about my book release. She plans to be the first in line to buy it.

After years of life experience, I’ve come to see success in a different light. Yes, I still dream of becoming a novelist, but more importantly, I want to be the kind of author Debbie Macomber is—inspiring, encouraging and God-led. Whether I sell one book or thousands, as long as I’m moving in the direction God points me, I’m already a success.

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