Today is a big day. Today I am revealing myself to the world. I am releasing a book. Several years ago, I decided to begin my lifelong dream of writing a book. It is something I had always wanted to do but honestly, never thought it was possible. I toyed with writing in high school and even in college, writing short stories (I made my creative writing class cry!) but never really got going. I even worked as a writer and editor for a small travel magazine after college. Still, writing about tour destinations is a far cry from writing the next great American novel. Instead, I pushed the notion to the side.
Fast forward to years later, and I decided that it was time to start. I wrote in secret at first, not telling anyone what I was writing, slightly embarrassed to be writing a paranormal romance. Gradually, I began to tell my friends and family. There were mixed reviews. People thought I was crazy. People thought I was a genius. People thought I was brave. I thought I was just being me.
I finished a few years ago and began to query. I queried some pretty big names. Agencies like Barry Goldblatt Literary (represents Jo Knowles and Robin Wasserman) and Jane Rotrosen Agency (represents Jennifer Armentrout and Kristin Hannah). I did my research. I didn't just query every agent. I queried about 15 agencies and got rejections from every one. This may not seem like a lot, but like I said, I was picky. Those 15 came from a list of over 100. Feeling a bit frustrated, I pushed my project to the side until a very good friend (author Gypsy Rae Choszer) said that I should self publish. With a renewed sense of promise, I decided she was right.
Today is my release day. Today is the day tat all of my blood, sweat, and tears become a reality. Writing a book is an extremely revealing process. I didn't just write and publish a book. I learned a lot about myself. I feel that in sharing a book, I am sharing myself as well, and that is an absolutely terrifying notion. Still, after waiting for someone to make my dreams come true, I decided that my dreams will happen when I make them happen. Today is an important day to me, not just because it is my release, but because it is the start of something new. I started my own publishing company to publish my books. I am a writer and now I am a published author. There will be many people who like my books and those that don't and that is okay. I learned a long time ago that you don't write to become rich and famous. You write for yourself. That's why Fitzgerald's quote is so important to me. I write because I have something to say. Enough for several more books. ;)
~Happy Reading (and writing!)
Sara
A SADNESS WITHIN is now available on Amazon and Smashwords via ebook. Paperback copies can be ordered soon!
Fast forward to years later, and I decided that it was time to start. I wrote in secret at first, not telling anyone what I was writing, slightly embarrassed to be writing a paranormal romance. Gradually, I began to tell my friends and family. There were mixed reviews. People thought I was crazy. People thought I was a genius. People thought I was brave. I thought I was just being me.
I finished a few years ago and began to query. I queried some pretty big names. Agencies like Barry Goldblatt Literary (represents Jo Knowles and Robin Wasserman) and Jane Rotrosen Agency (represents Jennifer Armentrout and Kristin Hannah). I did my research. I didn't just query every agent. I queried about 15 agencies and got rejections from every one. This may not seem like a lot, but like I said, I was picky. Those 15 came from a list of over 100. Feeling a bit frustrated, I pushed my project to the side until a very good friend (author Gypsy Rae Choszer) said that I should self publish. With a renewed sense of promise, I decided she was right.
Today is my release day. Today is the day tat all of my blood, sweat, and tears become a reality. Writing a book is an extremely revealing process. I didn't just write and publish a book. I learned a lot about myself. I feel that in sharing a book, I am sharing myself as well, and that is an absolutely terrifying notion. Still, after waiting for someone to make my dreams come true, I decided that my dreams will happen when I make them happen. Today is an important day to me, not just because it is my release, but because it is the start of something new. I started my own publishing company to publish my books. I am a writer and now I am a published author. There will be many people who like my books and those that don't and that is okay. I learned a long time ago that you don't write to become rich and famous. You write for yourself. That's why Fitzgerald's quote is so important to me. I write because I have something to say. Enough for several more books. ;)
~Happy Reading (and writing!)
Sara
A SADNESS WITHIN is now available on Amazon and Smashwords via ebook. Paperback copies can be ordered soon!