This week I finally sent my first completed novel off to a publisher. (Cue popping of champagne corks)
Keyboard break time. Glasses off, pencil down, mug full. Tea? I’m calling it tea.
Of course I want them to love it as much as I do. They asked to see it, so I’m hopeful.
Sunset Surrender is sexy romance between Abby Parker, who inherits a beach cottage with a surprise tenant; and Zach Rivers, a soldier-turned-writer battling PTSD who refuses to leave. There’s plenty of conflict and chemistry. Did I mention sexy?
But whether the publisher I’ve sent it to loves it, or not, is out of my hands. All I can do is start working on the next book. Writing novels is a weird enterprise, the work and re-work can take a very long time. There are no guarantees your book will find a home with a traditional print publisher. Sure you can self-publish, but that means developing a whole lot of other skills in marketing and business, or paying others who have them.
Do I want to learn those skills or do I want to write more books? The simple answer is both. I’m doing online courses all the time; going to seminars and workshops and festivals and conferences. I’m learning about social media. I’ve built this website and am learning how to fix it so it stays built. I’m taking the business side seriously and I’ll be working with professional editors. I’m learning more about the craft of writing and planning a career as an author.
I want a career with lots of choice. I want to be traditionally published and have the option to publish my own books. I want to be part of the big romance published author tribe and go to their fabulous in-house parties. I want to enjoy the thrill of getting “the call” from a publisher saying “we want your book” and “can we have more books, please?”
Does that mean it will happen? Time will tell. That’s why I’m determined to enjoy the journey, and share the ride along the way. I’ll keep on writing and polishing and submitting until I get “the call” whether it is for Sunset Surrender or the some other book. And I’ll share the journey here.
I’m addicted to happy endings, so keep your fingers crossed for me that Sunset Surrender gets one.