Although Providence is Book 3 in the Apple Hill Series, I actually wrote it first. And second. And third. And then I did massive amounts of editing and rewrites before I sent it to my publisher (Celebrate Lit) last April. Chip MacGregor, well-known literary agent, spoke at a writer’s conference I attended years ago and said most authors have to write three books before they’re good enough to be published. I turned to my writer-friend and said, “Do you think it counts if the three books were all the same one?”
Why was it so difficult to write Providence? Surrendered and Illusions, although needing plenty of edits, was a cinch in comparison. It’s kind of a two-part answer. Because the story was inspired by my brother’s suicide, there was an emotional component to it. I was in a dark place when I first wrote it, and in the time it took to rewrite it three times, my emotional barometer had changed, so the story needed to be changed. Again.
It was also the novel with which I learned to write.
In 2010, I attended Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference for the third year, and I was determined to meet with literary agent Steve Laube. For reasons I couldn’t name, I felt he was supposed to be my agent. He was a strange mixture of brilliant, sarcastic and humorous. And he scared me to death. I am very shy and introverted until I get to know someone, so approaching him was no easy feat. Heart pounding clear up into my throat, I did so anyway, and he agreed to meet with me.
We sat in the conference center soda fountain and he flipped through the first three chapters of my manuscript like a speed reader on steroids. He was a mind reader, as well, because he glanced up and said, “You might think I’m not reading this, but I am. Your dialogue is so well-crafted, it takes no effort to track.” I had to swallow back a squeal of pure excitement. The Steve Laube complimented my writing. Oh, joy! He asked me to send him the entire manuscript.
Two months later, Chris and I were vacationing in British Columbia when Steve Laube’s email came in. He wasn’t interested in representing me and said the novel lacked structure. I emailed back and asked him if I could fix it and resend. He immediately responded, “It needs so much work, I doubt it’s fixable, but you can try.”
I was crushed. I swore I’d never write another word. This whole writing gig was just too hard, and I was obviously not good enough to ever get published. Blah, blah, blah. The pity party lasted about two hours.
The next morning, we took the ferry over to Victoria, which was a three-hour tour (seriously) each way. I brought the book Story Engineering by Larry Brooks (recommended by my mentor, Randy Ingermanson) with me on the trip, determined to prove Steve Laube wrong. I have a hard time accepting it when told I can’t do something. I don’t know if this is a positive character trait or not, but it’s served me well in the past. I studied that book for the six hours we were on the ferry until I understood where I went wrong and was able to restructure my outline.
When we got home, I tore into my manuscript. By the time I was done, only one of the original chapters was left. Strangely, as I was writing, first person present POV (Point of View) emerged. I kept deleting and rewriting in third person, but it was like the Holy Spirit ordained that I should write it His way instead of mine, and despite my best efforts, first person prevailed. I figured the good Lord knew more about it than I did, so I went with it.
In 2011, I again attended the writer’s conference and went to Steve Laube to schedule an appointment. I felt like Oliver Twist holding out an empty bowl and saying, “Please, sir, I want some more.” Mr. Laube capitulated, and we once again sat across from each other in the soda fountain. He glanced at my outline and looked up at me with wide eyes. “You rewrote the entire novel, didn’t you?” At least he remembered me, so that was something. He didn’t need to read my first three chapters, because he already liked my writing. He just wanted the structure to be improved. Again, he asked me to send the manuscript.
Yes, I eventually signed a contract with the Steve Laube Literary Agency, and the following year, when I won 1st place in the ACFW Genesis Contest for the contemporary category, I thanked Steve Laube in my acceptance speech for eviscerating my writing—it was what was needed to motivate me to work harder. The following year, I stepped away from writing to help in my husband’s practice for a “few weeks,” which ended up closer to a few years. When Chris retired, and I was ready to get serious again, I heard God say, “Let me be your agent” over and over. I asked to be out of my contract, and at the next writer’s conference, I met Sandra Barela of Celebrate Lit, and the rest, as they say, is history.
My brother committed suicide on January 26, 2009. Twelve years after the fact, the novel Providence, which was inspired by this tragedy, will be released. Never have I worked so hard, learned so much, or prayed so often over a manuscript. If even one person receives hope from this story, it will have been worth it.
Comments 2
I enjoyed reading this. I knew some of it, but of course the details were lost in minutia of my own life. You are a great writer. I really enjoy reading your books. Many people finish a book and say they could do as well or better, but as you have learned it takes more than putting pen to paper. As your “big” sister I am very proud if your endeavors. Keep writing there is so much I need to hear from God through your books and I am sure I am not alone.
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You are such an encouragement to me! Thank you.