I'm Not Dead
It’s been a while since I posted, so I thought I should send a note to let people know I’m not dead.
What I have been is busy. And a little sad.
In January I had to say goodbye to my dream of having my first book, What’s Left is Hope, picked up by a publisher. After months out on submission, my agent and I had to call it: Time of death, 12:15 pm on January 24, 2024. I had my rights to the book reverted back to me. I cried.
For those who know me, you know how hard I’ve worked on this book. How many rewrites, how many queries, how many pitches, requests, REJECTIONS I had. How thrilled I was when I finally signed with my agent. It was happening!!! Each time a publisher requested the full manuscript I was sure that was it. My dream would come true.
Saying goodbye to that dream was crushing and I took some time to feel all the feels. Then I got back on the horse, or the chair in this case. I reworked the book based on publisher feedback and submitted to a writing competition where I got the feedback, “I truly hope this project sees the light of day. It was a riveting read.” Oh my yay!!!
I then took the plunge and submitted to a small press in the UK. I was sure THIS was it!
I got the rejection last week. I didn’t cry this time; I had no tears left.
Now, I’m at a crossroads. While Hope was out on submission, I spent those months writing a new book, The Lonely Only Club, which I’m very proud of. I have two full-length completed novels and no one to read them because they’re sitting on my laptop.
What’s a writer to do in this situation?
Self-publish!
I'm tired of waiting. I believe I have a good story in What’s Left is Hope. I know what it takes to market a book, I did it with Just Tell Me I’m Pretty. I’m ready to have my book in the hands of readers. The worst that can happen is no one buys it, which is already happening now! Plus, I know my mom and dad will buy a few copies, so it won’t be a total loss. :)
I hope others will too and that you all will love Hope, Gabe, Asher, Kate, Bryce and Shawn as much as I do. That you’ll see parts of yourself in these characters. That you’ll root for Hope as much as I did and that you’ll find yourself laughing, crying, and in the end, full of hope.
Because in the end, What’s Left is Hope.