The proofs are in the mail…”Oh, my goodness,” said Little Orphan Annie and me.
I began to work on Huachuca Woman over twenty years ago and it will now, finally, see the light of day on paper and epub smaller than 8.5″x11.” Early on and for too long, I took the high road, looking for the power people (read:NYC publishers) and not getting past the gatekeepers (read: agents.) After the first seventy passes, rejections and no replies (a form of rejection,) I began to look at vanity publishing. For a mere $2-5000, I could fill my garage or spare bedroom (assuming I have one) with hundreds of my books to sell at book fairs, conferences, writers’ club meetings, beauty shops, medical offices and captive audiences (read: family and friends.) Did I REALLY want to do this, even if I could afford to? NOPE.
And so, I kept up the search for independent publishers where I passed on them or they passed on me. And agents, at conferences, classes, forums or wherever I came across their paths. It seemed the personal connection would strengthen my chances and so I kept at it. Last Fall, I thought I’d found the perfect match…only to have her reader pass. Whether on purpose or by design the reader’s notes were included in the returned manuscript, I was dumfounded. She couldn’t identify with the protagonist “despite the two deaths” in the pages she’d read; I wrote her off as a “22 year old with no life experience” and gave up my search for another agent’s reader.
Sometime ago, a guardian angel tried to convince me to epub and offered to cover the costs. I dithered with the same old fears: inadequate editing, wanting great quality, success/failure and a certain techno phobia. “Get on with it, find someone to do the technical work,” said Angel. And I did.
This was still a complicated process and I can’t imagine doing it all on my own. Writer friends my age have persisted in stretching their minds and joining the 21st century. I’m still very much in the 19th century with occasional adaptations to the 20th. Fortunately, I came upon a gifted man (Blake Webster: www.mediadesignpublishing.com) to upload my manuscript to CreateSpace and the Kindle and yet another to do my cover design (Kent Sorensen: www.kentwsorensen.com.) I feel very fortunate in being able to entrust my dreams to these men.
Where are you in your dream to publish?
What is/was your plan to get there?
What would you suggest to others?
Oh Arletta, even your “story” is a great read. I’m so happy for you. You believe in your story and you believe others can help you. Power to you!
And you have been one of my strongest helpers! Thank you for your continuing support over the years!
Thanks to Cristian Mihai, for visiting.
I liked reading how you did it. Congrats! My road? I am a little tech anxious myself and may go the same route as you, but not yet as I don’t have a completed novel. I do have a picture book with an agent so my fingers are crossed. It was difficult to find my agent and now it is difficult to play the waiting game.
Hi Barbara,
We all have to make/take our own paths; you may not recognize yours until you are on it! Actually, with your book of poetry and now the picture book picked up by an agent, it seems to me you are well on your way.
I read your blog entries from spring forward and got frustrated trying to leave comments but I will return and get it right!
Arletta
Arletta, I read the excerpts from Huachuca Woman and I believe I’m hooked. So glad you got it published your way.
Eunie,
You can’t believe how delighted I am by your words, knowing the high quality of your own work. Thank you and I hope to see you in Albuquerque this fall!
Arletta
This is my story almost to a “t”!!!! Thanks to those who have paved the way for us to self-publish and let our dreams and stories come alive!
Good luck to you, Roni, as you persevere toward publication. It’s worth the journey. Arletta
Thank you Arletta! I am hanging on tight! Just a few more weeks! I will post as soon as it’s out!
I admire your tenacity.
Thanks for visiting, Rebecca, and for your comment. I enjoyed visiting your website. Where will you move to in Arizona? I’ll be coming through southern AZ in Oct.
The plan is the remote eastern edge of Phoenix in Queen Creek, but it doesn’t look like it will be until November or so. I’d be pleased to meet and talk about writing.
I’ve been in the general area..Chandler and Gold Canyon. I hope we meet up some day for that chat!
Hi Arletta,
Just read through one of your books. We remember you talking about your projects while you visited about a life time ago. Nice to know there is so much talent in the family. I will get all three and hold on to them as a prized possession.
All my love to you, Cousin.
Bob
Dear Bob,
I’ve only just come across your post as I’m updating my website. Thank you for your lovely words and thoughts. I’m still at work on book #3…so much to catch up on we need an email or telephone call! Think of you and wonder about your poetry and if you’ve done anything about publishing? Love, Cuz Arletta
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