What a Difference a Year Makes

I was talking with my husband about everything that’s been happening with my writing lately. It was about a year ago (9/14 to be exact) I sent off two queries. One to Crescent Moon Press for Demons of the Sun, and one to Entangled for what is now titled All the Broken Pieces. I was at a point where I was seriously contemplating giving up. Not writing, because I loved it and could never give it up. But the query game where I sent letters, got requests for manuscripts, and got my heart broken again and again. And again. I didn’t know if I could keep doing that to myself.

Demons of the Sun was my newer book. All the Broken Pieces had been through two major revisions, one with an agent who didn’t end up signing me (but in the end helped me a ton), and put aside for six months. Then I took all the feedback I’d gotten from several agents, did another major revision, and considered self-publishing. But I wasn’t sure that was the right path for me. Then I heard about Entangled. So a year ago, I sent off two queries and hoped that one would maybe, please oh please, hit. And then in the end of October, within a couple weeks of each other, I’d signed two contracts. (Just looked up offer on All the Broken Pieces. It was 10/27 & I still got excited butterflies reading it) Now I’ve got one book out, another I’m really proud of coming out in a few months, and a couple more projects in the works.

I don’t mean for this post to be all Look at me, look at me, but more like a celebration of how blessed I’ve been this last year. I’d been getting rejection letters for 7 years. It sucked. But then, with a lot of hard work, everything fell into place. I get to work with people who believe in my stories! Honestly, it rocks. It was worth all of the pain and heartache. I met someone who told me I was living their dream, and I said I’m living my dream. And it’s true. I feel a bit like Cinderella.

So I just want to spread joy and hope and say don’t give up on your dreams, whtever they are. And if you’re a writer, keep writing, keep putting yourself out there. I wish you all the success in the world! Because you never know what a difference a year could make…