WRITING AND PUBLISHING FAQ

HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?

The short answer is: my book was discovered through my blog by an acquisitions editor at Bethany House Publishers. So, my book sold to a publisher I'd never queried--but only after I'd been turned down by 80+ literary agents. Read the more in-depth answer in this entry from my blog.

HOW CAN I GET PUBLISHED?

I suppose the first thing you can do is realize how little of the process is in your control. No, I shouldn't say that--quite a bit of the process is in your control, to be quite honest. If you write a great book, I firmly think you'll eventually find a publishing home. I can tell you this: Read a lot. Write a lot. Don't even think about revising what you have until you have a first draft in the can. Also, contacts can certainly help you, so join a local writing group and other professional associations. (I'm a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers, and I frequent the online communities at Zoetrope Studios, writers.net, Faith*in*Fiction, and Absolute Write.) Go to a few conferences. Above all, write because you enjoy it.

SO DO YOU GO TO ANY CONFERENCES OR CONVENTIONS?

You bet; in fact, this year, I'm hoping to go to a few more than usual. Check out my tentative schedule.