2025 marks ten years since I became a published author. Today, I’m continuing my series of reflective posts about that milestone year and what it taught me.
My previous installment shared my mom’s cancer battle amidst my efforts to find a publisher. Right as we were getting a handle on her diagnosis and what her recovery would entail, I was alerted to a call for submissions from a small children’s book publisher that wanted to branch out into adult fiction, specifically women’s fiction. The publisher was named Splashing Cow Books, and they were calling this new imprint Blue Boot Books. Loving shoes, I couldn’t resist giving it a try.
As I highlighted in my last post, it didn’t take long for me to get a favorable response from their editor-in-chief. I can’t recall if he asked for the complete manuscript or just a sample, but eventually, they took the whole story to consider. Not having received that many bites like this, I was hopeful but still afraid of disappointment. Nonetheless, I deemed it an encouraging sign when they followed up a few weeks later to tell me they hadn’t forgotten about me.
About two months after our initial contact, I finally received what I had always dreamed of: an acceptance letter! The Splashing Cow made me jump over the moon! I would have been thrilled with a mere form letter with a contract attached, but to my delight, he complimented my characters and even floated the idea of composing a sequel…which I had already written.
Regardless of my utter—dare I say udder—elation, I still took the time to do research about agreeing to a contract. Through my entire journey to getting published, I took everything one step at a time. I’d skimmed the information about contracts in my primary resource, The Complete Idiots’ Guide to Getting Published, but I didn’t study that subject until I needed to. Thus, I broke it out and compared it with the fairly basic agreement I received, before deciding I didn’t need to consult a lawyer. The book gave me the incentive to even negotiate a higher percentage for licensing rights and more free author copies!
Once the ink was signed, the work began. I was in a tailspin I never had the gumption to imagine. My first matter of business was to name my series, a possibility beyond my wildest dreams. Along with that, I was tasked with writing up a bio, which threw me as much as it thrilled me due to my bare résumé.
After the initial mind-blowing few days, I went back to my trusty Idiots’ Guide to ascertain what I should expect next. I also added to my library of resources to learn more about my biggest fear in the book world, marketing. My research led me to create a website—which I had no idea what to even name!—and have my first set of professional photos taken.
The whole process perplexed yet invigorated me and served as a fantastic distraction for my family from the weighty concerns we had to contend with at the time. My spirits were brighter as I faced my mom’s imminent surgery and ensuing radiation treatments. We had something to look forward to on the other side of this challenging bridge. It showed me that flower-like joys can still bloom during the winters of your life.
No matter how well I researched ‘what to expect when you’re expecting a book release,’ though, nothing could aptly prepare me for editing! More on that in my next installment.
Up Next>
Defining a Decade: The First EDITion~Coming in July
<Previously
Defining a Decade: The Unexpected Climb
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