And there it is—that big announcement I’ve been hinting at.
It’s difficult to describe the feelings associated with having a story I’ve worked on for over 20 years get published. Until this, I’d never submitting anything to a publisher, competition, magazine, or website. Somehow all it took was one try with one publisher, and a dream became real—I should really buy a lotto ticket.
Mythic Roads Press is taking a chance on me and my novel. I thank them. So far the experience has been a pleasure, and I’m humbled. I never thought anyone would want to read an undersea sci-fi adventure story about love and revenge with a gender-neutral AI. Who’d be interested in that?
Well, I hope you will—along with many others.
I intend to chronical my journey from acquisition announcement to publication. We’re gearing up to begin work with an editor—something that terrifies and excites me. My writing group has been incredibly helpful even when I asked them to be brutal with their critiques. The chapters I shared became stronger because of them. I devised new ideas, new directions, and new insights into the story and characters. Oh, they pissed me off sometimes. Bruised my ego. Made me doubt myself. But after by blood pressure dropped and I processed what was being said, I discovered they were right most of the time. And like I said, my novel wouldn’t be what it is without that.
So, the editor.
I’m bracing myself. I think I’ll learn a lot. I think the story will only improve, and I think the right decisions will be made. Ego aside, I’ve always said that everything that gets dropped in a new draft edit still exists in the old one. So, I can take it. Bring it on!
Seriously, though. It should be a fascinating process and I can’t wait to get on with it. The road to publication is really a team effort. I wrote it alone, but between the publisher, editor, and me, we all one to produce the best novel we can.
But in the meantime, I’ve got work to do.
I made this website, created a Facebook author page, and had professional photos taken. I did the hard part. I wrote the thing and found a publisher. I just haven’t had time to do any of the social networking a lot of hopeful writers do—certainly not outside my writing group. Now that begins. Fortunately, I’ve got some good people willing to help.
Again, I come back to the writing group. If you don’t have one, find one. We are stronger together.
Ever forward.
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