Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

Five years ago today I became a published author with the publication of The Weaver. I suppose technically I was published before that with several short story publications to my name, but my goal was to have a book published, and that goal was realized on December 10, 2010. I still chuckle at how anti-climactic the moment was. I found The Weaver available on Amazon. I lifted my laptop and spun it in all directions to show off the Amazon page to my family. Then the oven timer beeped and I got up and finished cooking dinner. Yeah, being a published author is just that sexy. But I’ve had many amazing moments too. The Weaver was a finalist in a couple award contests I entered it in. It received (still receives—bless all you reviewers out there) really positive reviews. And it opened the door for me to step into classrooms. One of my favorite things to do as an author is to be able to visit with readers. Plus, it doesn’t hurt when you walk into a room and hear a child whispe...

As February’s Share The Love theme progresses, we move away from the Industry Love stories and into a subject more closely related to Valentine’s Day, which we celebrate on Tuesday. This week my guests and I will share stories about our CURRENT LOVE. One day I was walking up a hallway at work and glanced into an office that was normally empty. I made eye contact with an occupant sitting behind the bare desk. He wore a gray suit and a disinterested expression. It was obvious he was filling out paperwork for the open systems engineer position we were interviewing for. I continued past the office as if he hadn’t just made my heart skip a beat. As soon as I’d cleared the doorway I broke into a run. I ran straight to the reception desk and asked the girl, “Who is that?” She giggled. “I know, cute, huh?” she replied. She pulled out his resume and cover letter. “His name is Glen.” We poured through the documents and learned all we could. I know SO illegal, let’s not think about that par...

The publishing industry is full of wonderful people.   Today, Kai has asked for a few words sharing the love of those people. What a tough choice! I could talk about my husband, who is not in the industry except as a consumer, but who believes in me when I don’t believe in myself.   I could talk about my agent, without whom I wouldn’t be where I am today.   I could talk about a couple of fabulous editors who loved my work enough to take it on and help me polish it until it shone.   I could talk about librarians who have loved my books enough to spend part of their ever-shrinking budget on them, or about teachers who have brought me and my books into their classrooms.   They are all worthy recipients of my industry love, and they all have it. But today I’d like to mention someone else.   He owns an independent bookstore in a small town.   What with big chains, the internet, and the move into the electronic age, owning an independent booksto...

I’m afraid this blog post will turn into a novella. There are so many people who have supported me and continue to support me on my writing journey. Thanks to Long Ridge Writers Group, I met the first two people who would influence my writing: Jean Lauzier (whose last name I still need to look up every time I write it) and Tonya Stokes. It was Tonya who gave me my first writing gig after graduating from Long Ridge. Jean, invited me to join a writers forum she and Tonya had started, and our friendship blossomed from there. Over the years these ladies have provided great feedback and encouragement. Our conversations lately are just blurbs on Facebook, but I’ve never forgotten how they brought me from tentative graduate to confident writer. Next would have to be the amazing Lea Schizas. For the life of me I can’t remember how Lea and I met. I’m not even sure who to thank for guiding me to The Muse Online Writers Conference . Lea is the main coordinator behind this fabulous, free ...

Let’s hear a loud cheer for Donna McDine.   I remember the day Donna emailed me my first ever book review. Frankly, I did not know what to expect, but Donna’s review changed my life forever.    The positive review of my book gave me the encouragement to seek other authors to review my book.   The icing on the cake came when I came across the link for Guardian Angel Publishing on Donna’s website.    The name Guardian Angel caught my attention, so I checked out the site.   I was hugely impressed so I decided to submit my manuscript. Much to my delight, Lynda Burch owner and CEO of Guardian Angel Publishing gave me my first ever-traditional contract. I believe God put people on our paths for a reason.   Out of all the people to review my book, God opened the door for me to meet Donna.   I googled book reviewers and came across many names. I emailed several reviewers, but Donna replied right away. After joining Guardian Angel’s Yahoo group, ...

            When my thirty-second children’s book was released this past December, I could not say, “I did it all by myself!”   Rather, it was the culmination of years of seeking and receiving support from generous-hearted folks who offered encouragement.    My dream of writing a book began when I was in the middle grades.   I was attending junior high school, when Standard Publishing Company published a short poem I had written. My first publication!               To equip myself for bigger things, I took correspondence courses. I applied for a job as a “stringer” for the Lewiston (MAINE) Daily Sun.   A Mr. Smith welcomed me and I submitted the local news from my hometown for several years until we left Maine.   Before we moved, I wrote feature stories for the Sun and other periodicals, including Yankee Magazine. I was thirty-seven w...

            Barbara Pollard is the head librarian of the North Central Regional Library branch in my little town in Washington State. The list of things she has done to encourage me as a writer and a person is long indeed. It was at her suggestion, seven years ago, that the library board asked me to join. I’ve learned so much, from how to work in a group to how to speak up for things I believe in to how to plan major events, from working in this position. It’s truly helped me in so many ways.             When I told Barbara that I’d sold my picture book, Bedtime Monster, to Raven Tree Press, she was excited. I shared my progress with the book (it was a long process—here’s part 1 & part 2 if you’re interested), showed her the illustrations as I got them, and brought in the proofs, that she went over thoroughly. She was enthusiastic with every step of the journey. Barb...

It is time for us to move away from first love and on to our next Share The Love subject: INDUSTRY LOVE. Writing this post is a bit like an acceptance speech for an awards show. “I’d like to thank the academy.” However, I’ve been troubling over whom to acknowledge my appreciation of for fear I’ll offend someone by leaving him or her out. The last thing I want is for someone to think, “After all I’ve done for her and she picks the editor?” Lame, huh? Yet I don’t want to do a blanket thank you either, because that somehow cheapens the value of affect each person has had on my career to date. “You all mean so much to me,” might leave you thinking – am I part of that you? Such a quandary. So I’ve decided to focus. There is one repeated action that has successfully kept me writing and submitting. There is one constant kind of support that has lifted me when I’m down and celebrated with me when I’m up. Encouragement. I’ve belonged to several critique groups o...