The Tears And Triumphs Of A New Author Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32


There are so many things in life that one just can’t understand until they’ve lived it.
Writing a book and getting it published is one of those things.
A year and a half ago, I would have bet anything that getting the story out of my mind and onto paper would have been the biggest challenge.
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
I loved the writing process.
Once I got “into the zone”, it was like I had diarrhea of the brain. Once it got started, I just couldn’t shut it off. (Hmmm, I hope that metaphor doesn’t extend to include what actually came out!).
As any writer knows, the hardest part is getting the book published.
Like the vast majority of new writers, I was totally ignored by the big publishers and the successful literary agents, and chose the road of self-publishing.
It is not a decision I regret.
Everything happens for a reason.
So often, when things come too easily, we don’t appreciate them, and conversely, when we have to work hard, we more fully understand the value of what we have accomplished.
By traveling this road for the past year, I have learned a lot about the publishing business, but even more important, I have learned that I have so much more to learn.
Sometimes, things happen that we just don’t understand.
I submitted query letters to many large publishers and agents, but Tate was the last I had expected to hear from.
Tate is a Christian-oriented publisher and my Lady Justice novels just didn’t seem to fit into their traditional offerings, but I wasn’t about to argue with them.
If my experience getting my book in print with Authorhouse was Chapter 1 of my writing career, then marketing my book for a year as a self-published author was Chapter 2.
Chapter 3 began nine months ago when I signed my contract with Tate for Lady Justice Takes A C.R.A.P. and Lady Justice And The Lost Tapes.
Even though I had seen on every publisher’s website that producing a book takes one to two years, it’s still one of those things you can’t understand until you’ve lived it.
Hmmmm! Nine months --- I wonder if it’s just a coincidence that the gestation period for my first two novels was the same as for my two children?
Wait three months to get on the schedule; one month for copy editing; one month for conceptual editing; one month for cover creation; another month for layout design --- whew!
You know you’re about ready to give birth when you get the email that says, “The editing department has received and reviewed your final proof and we are nearing the printing phase!”
And finally, “I look forward to wrapping up production. A member of our marketing team will contact you by the end of next week.”
This was the message I wanted to hear.
If I may use a football metaphor, promoting my book as a self-published author was like being a running back and trying to move the football without the benefit of an offensive line or a blocking back. You’ll get caught behind the line of scrimmage every time.
I had read online about the marketing support for Tate authors:

In 2009, for the first time in history, more books were sold outside the walls of brick and mortar bookstores than inside. Certainly this reflects the strength of online retailers such as Amazon and bn.com, but it also reflects the truth that there are a variety of ways for an author to reach the intended, target audience. Bookstores are one element of success, but in bookstores, readers must find the book and author. Finding the target audience for a book involves taking the book to the reader, engaging the reader, and being proactive, not reactive, in the pursuit of success. No one attacks the niche market for their authors the way Tate Publishing does for our fine authors. This month alone we have scheduled over 500 niche events for Tate authors, helping our authors engage the community and create broad visibility in a variety of markets.
And remember, if you are a Tate Publishing author, you NEVER have to go it alone. You have a Marketing Representative at your right hand with a team that rep can mobilize to try something new. Our expertise (some of it formed through our own trial and error) should be a wealth of wisdom about what works and what doesn't, and we can help place you on the path to success as we work toward that end.

I now have two Lady Justice novels ready to go and the third will be ready in a few months.
I’m ready to carry the ball, only this time, Tate Publishing will be my offensive line of seasoned veterans and my marketing rep will be my blocking back, opening big holes into the brick and mortar stores and other venues that had been denied me up to this point.
Every ball carrier wants a touchdown, but after a year and a half of negative yardage, I would be thrilled to get a few first downs.
It has been a long and winding road from that day I said to my wife, “I think I can write a book,” and sat down at the computer, to the day my first two novels, printed by a major publisher, were delivered to my door.
I’m ready for Chapter 4 and can’t wait to see what lies around the next bend.