I’m going to start off this post by saying I’m one of the lucky ones. And in lucky I mean, I wasn’t one of those authors who laboured over one or even several books for years and years before I finally sold. I sold the first manuscript I ever completed.

I started SINFUL SURRENDER on November 1, 2006 and completed the first draft the first week of January 2007. I shopped for an agent, polished up the book, query and synopsis and entered contests the better part of 2007. I was on my final round of revisions for A TASTE OF DESIRE when Hilary Sares called Sept 4, 2008 and made an offer for SINFUL SURRENDER. In the publishing world, that is a relatively short time to get one’s book published by a traditional New York publisher.

In essence, no one need feel sorry for me. My dream of publication came true in a relatively short time and with my first complete novel no less. No one has to tell me how fortunate I am and how the stars aligned so nicely for me. But to my credit, I was singularly determined. I researched the Victorian era and wrote like a demon for 18 solid months. It paid off I’m happy to say.

The story certainly doesn’t end there and here is definitely when I start coming down from that high of selling. Marketing and Promoting. Two of the more daunting words I’ve ever seen and more daunting and painstakingly difficult task I’ve ever undertaken. In case you haven’t heard, SINFUL SURRENDER never made the NYT bestseller’s lists. It never made any list. I will go so far as to assure you that most of the historical romance reading public doesn’t know the book exists.  While I have yet to receive a royalty statement (it should be coming in December/January) I think I can safely say, for the ones who know it’s out there, a great number of them chose not to purchase it.

Suffice it enough to say, it’s not enough to have your book published, you have to actually sell…well enough to make a publisher want to buy more of your books. I had a two book deal so A TASTE OF DESIRE will appear–in much reduced numbers this time around–in your local (I hope) Borders and Barnes and Noble book stores. For those who would like to purchase it, you might have to hunt it down just a bit.  I know, unlike SINFUL SURRENDER, I won’t see it on my local Walmart shelves. Of course I hope it does well but I’m a realist and I know it’s going to be an uphill battle. There isn’t a big marketing push behind it and I’m a relative unknown. But at least I’m not naive about the whole thing…publishing is not an easy business. For me, although writing the books was no walk in the park, getting published was easy compared to staying published, for that truly is the hard, hard part.

My road to publication has hit its highs and I’ve definitely hit the lows. Currently, I don’t have anything under contract. But as a writer, even these lows won’t deter me because I always have a plan b, c, and d. I can’t ever stop trying. I won’t stop writing because writing is the sort of thing that’s in my blood, and while the urge–need to write may not burn as bright all the time, it still burns. I have so many stories I’m desperate to tell–Alex Cartwright, the last hero in my trilogy, needs to have his story told. And it will be told…someday.

So for all you aspiring authors keep writing no matter what. And when you get that first contract, jump for joy and celebrate. Savour that once in a life time thrill of that first sale. And then come up with a wickedly good marketing plan to get your name and book out there. Network. Network and then Network some more. It’s enormously helpful if you have your publishing company behind you and pushing your book.  When it’s all said and done, the reading public will have the last word. With a great book and great marketing and promotion, you’ll leave them clamoring for more.

I was told by a publishing insider that in this economic time (recession) readers are sticking with their tried and true favourite authors and are unwilling to try out new authors. Would you say that’s a fair statement? Are you wary when buying a new author?

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