Insights into a writer's journey.

Read a lot. Write a lot. Network a lot. Believe in yourself a lot. Make your own luck a lot. The more quality stuff you put out, the more likely it is someone somewhere will take notice. Don’t underestimate the power of social media! You never know who you might “meet” there. I’m speaking from personal experience.

When I lived in Britain, Sheila Graber lived up in The North East of England, and I lived hundreds of miles away in Bournemouth in The South. We didn’t know each other! How did we get together working on “Luna The Moon Pig” We met on social media, by which time I was living thousands of miles away in Florida!

I was first published as an author of fiction in 2014, a feat I achieved by making many written pitches to publishers. The second time I got published it was a little easier because I had got over the first time hurdle; it took me just 10 applications to get “Snugs The Snow Bear” published. Maybe it was luck, but I worked very hard on polishing the manuscript, creating a synopsis and a book blurb, and writing a book proposal before I sent off my pitch. Now, with “Luna The Moon Pig” Sheila had noticed Snugs, but I had already signed up an excellent illustrator in Peter Hall. So when I wrote Luna, I shared it with Sheila, and she felt she “just had to get drawing.” Luna is now published through Quizicat Productions!

Needless to say striving for excellence is an ongoing process. I always have books in the pipeline, and that means I will be pitching my books to publishers for as long as I continue to write them.

It is important to have courage and self-belief, and to be tenacious. A quality book will always get published - it just takes time. It’s a matter of knowing the market, where your book fits into the market, and who your readership is. If you are clear about your objectives you are more likely to succeed in becoming a published author.

I am happy to say that "Luna the Moon Pig" has just been signed with Ventorros Press! Watch this space!