From Reader to Author

Louann, thanks so much for having me on the blog today. It’s great to be able to meet new readers and other authors.

I’d like to share a little bit about my journey from reader to writer.

I only began writing three years ago and Perpetual Light, releasing Winter 2012, was literally the first book I’d ever written. I didn’t know the slightest thing about story arcs or character arcs about black moments or goal, motivation and conflict. What I did know was that I wanted to write. I’ve always had a creative flare. I just never had any idea how to channel that energy. I’ve tried many, many different things, all of which my husband has kindly supported. From sewing to painting to crafting to cooking. I even had my own handbag and accessories business. But nothing quite “fit.”

Then November 1st, three years ago as part of my anniversary gift my husband gave me Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. I read it in a day. I read the whole series that week. Then I went on to read the first three books in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, the entire Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. By New Year’s Day I’d decided I wanted to write a book.

I had a great idea. A woman keeps getting reincarnated over and over as she tries to find the husband who was stolen from her and turned into a vampire in their first life together.

That was it. That was the idea. At the time, with very little understanding of the mechanics of storytelling it made perfect sense. I finished my first draft in May, went to my first writer’s conference that month and promptly learned I’d “told” a very large percentage of the story, most of which was backstory (another new term).

I kept working. Lots and lots of revision, lots of paper and ink cartridges. That freebee printer my husband received when he bought my laptop has earned its keep in my office.

In January 2010 I joined the Romance Writers of America and the New England Chapter, which brought me to my critique partner, Kat Duncan, and several more conferences.  I pitched and queried and found out I had no external conflict. Hmmm.  What the hell is that? Back to revisions.

One evening at the RWA National Conference I sat at a table with Ella Drake, Jax Cassidy and Chudney. We discussed my story. They asked me tons of questions and made all sorts of suggestions. Nothing clicked, but they got me thinking.  

That night, back in my room, It came to me.

My heroine is a Divine Slayer. Her life with her husband wasn’t her first life. It was the one that changed her destiny. She’s not just hunting him because she loves him. She’s hunting him to kill him.

AH-HA!

More revisions.

By October I’d re-written Perpetual Light and pitched it at the New Jersey conference where I received a request for a partial. I wasted no time and eagerly submitted the synopsis and first three chapters. Several weeks later it was rejected with no advice or recommendations.

Undeterred, I queried more agents and received more requests and more rejections. In April I pitched Perpetual Light to Steph Murray of Crescent Moon Press at the New England Chapter’s conference. Steph bought Perpetual Light.

Very promptly the next leg of the journey toward publication began- writing the back cover blurb, editing, marketing, etc. As I try to figure out how to edit one book, continue to write my next book, market and promo myself as a writer, and work full-time I realize how blessed I am.

Not every writer gets to be published. Not every writer even finishes one book or meets so many wonderful and inspiring people.

I’ve tried to enjoy every moment of this ride, including the rejections and disqualifying myself from the Golden Heart Contest by mixing up my synopses and sending the single-spaced one! Thank God for Kat and my friends at NEC!

My advice on writing to anyone who wants to publish a book is keep at it. Just keep going no matter how hard you think it is or how many rejections you receive. Keep learning and growing and just keep writing.

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Perpetual Light


A reincarnated woman must trust the husband she condemned three hundred and fifty years ago to help her defeat a power-hungry vampire hell-bent on ruling the world. As a Pharo of Redemption Lucia DiComano must destroy Samuel, a master vampire who'll stop at nothing to possess her powers. But centuries of avoiding this task have weakened her. Now, in order to save all of creation she must rely on Vittorio, the man who holds the key to her soul, the very same vampire who changed her destiny.

Available Winter 2012
www.crescentmoonpress.com

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Jordan K. Rose After trying her hand at many, many things - from crafting and art classes to cooking and sewing classes to running her own handbag business, Jordan finally figured out how to channel her creativity. With an active imagination and a little encouragement from her husband she sat down and began to write, each night clicking away at the keys with her black Labrador, Dino curled up under the desk. A few short years later she's entered the publishing arena with no plans to ever turn back. Jordan's a member of RWA National, and the New England (NEC), Connecticut, and Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FFnP) Chapters.