Part of the fun in this whole publication process is learning from those who have already been through it. Case in point: Deeanne Gist. Bethany House Publishers released her first novel, an edgy-inspirational romance called A Bride Most Begrudging, on July 1st. Since then, the book has been enjoying a run on the CBA Bestseller List (currently #15), the #1 spot on the Christian Book Distributors fiction list, and a rush to a third printing--a pretty heady six weeks.

In the midst of this, Dee was kind enough to talk to me about the whole process. Today: Part One, in which Dee shares a bit about how the book came to be published.

TL Hines: Dee, On your blog, you've been talking about your path to publication--which, unlike the path of many CBA writers, included getting a well-known New York agent to rep you. Did you feel you had "made it" when you signed with a high-profile agent?

Deeanne Gist: No, I can't say I felt like I'd "made it," but I did feel some validation. If he picked my manuscript up, I knew the writing was what it should be. If it was rejected by the publishers, I could now rest easy that it wasn't because of the writing.

TL Hines: You admit in your blog that you made many early mistakes on the path to publication. But really, would you go back and change any of it now? Don't the mistakes somehow sweeten the successes?

Deeanne Gist: There are a lot of things in my life I'd like to go back and do over. Mistakes are never fun. But I definitely can say if publication had come easily and quickly, I wouldn't have appreciated that sale half as much as I did in actuality.

TL Hines: On his blog, Dave Long has talked a bit about how your work first came to his attention. Tell us about it. Did you approach Dave first, then have your agent follow up? Or did your agent pitch him?

Deeanne Gist: When I submitted to Dave, I no longer had a working relationship with the agent I had previously. I have a manager instead. He differs from an agent in that he manages my career. Because I write non-fiction and fiction and journalism, etc., he helps me juggle/manage all those obligations. So, in answer to your question, I approached Dave directly and once Dave showed some interest in my manuscript, I introduced him to my manager.

Tomorrow: Part two, in which Deeanne discusses--among other things--how she names characters. (It wasn't the answer I expected.)