"You're a real author? I've always wanted to write a book! How did you get published?"

I can't count how many times I've been asked this. And I've only been a published author (ooooh, big stuff!) for two years. No, not even that. It would seem that roughly 80% of the people I meet have a burning desire to write a book (well, at least have one published. not the same thing). They assume that I have all the answers, that I am the key to their success.

The unfortunate thing is that I really have no idea how to get published. My story is unconventional, and roughly 80% of the time I feel clueless about this whole publishing business. The way I did it (or rather, the way God did it for me) will probably not work for you. Not because you're not fabulous, but because I still don't understand how everything happened the way it did.

But without further ado...

Even if my journey to publication was odd, and telling my story might prove unhelpful, I've decided to share it anyway. Then the next time someone asks me (3 people in the last 2 days) "how I got published," I will simply point them to this blog, and voila! 

On some level, I'm sure I've always dreamed of writing a book. I learned to read early and started writing poems in first grade. I made a card catalog for all my books when I was 10. I wrote stories, letters, lists. I can't remember ever NOT loving to read and write. Loved writing essays and stories in high school, research papers in college.

Did my student teaching on the island of Okinawa (Japan) in 1997. Determined to write a book about my experience. Sent a proposal to one company. "Like your writing, but audience is way too narrow." Decided to self-publish. Went with iUniverse. At the time (2001) it cost me $99 to publish my book. Bought a couple hundred copies at a discount (50-60% maybe), sold them to everyone I knew, made about $3. Okay, a few hundred.

Self-publishing is always an option. But, by most definitions, it doesn't make you a real author. Most people don't know this though, so when they gush over your book, you can just smile (like I did) and not explain what self-publishing really is. You slapped some words together, paid someone to bind it into book form. You're an author!

Back-tracking to 1998. I kept a crazy-detailed journal of married life for several years with plans to make it into some type of marriage "devotional." Over time, it evolved into something entirely different. I plugged away at it, and by 2004 was ready to finally do something with it. Found out about The Writer's Edge Service. For $79 (now $95), you can submit a synopsis (summary) of your book, a couple sample chapters, table of contents, and they'll tell you if it's "good" or not. They "accept" roughly half of what is submitted to them. If you get in, your name and synopsis is added to a list that goes out to 80+ Christian publishers at the end of the month. (This service obviously won't work if your book isn't Christian.) I believe it's only on the list for one month.

I sent my stuff to Writer's Edge in October 2004. My book idea appeared on their December 2004 list. The first week of January, two publishers contacted me via e-mail. One was Harvest House. I honestly can't remember the name of the other. They both wanted to see sample chapters. The gal at Harvest House said, "We rarely accept manuscripts in this manner, but your synopsis intrigued me." (see? unconventional.) I sent both publishers my sample chapters. The first publisher turned me down--"You're too wordy and talk about yourself too much." (this is still true). Harvest House said, "Your writing is like a breath of fresh air! Send us the whole book!"

The book made it to the Publishing Committee (which meant nothing to me until my contact at HH told me it was huge). They accepted it, offered me an advance. From Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife was released in March 2006. They asked what I wanted to write next. I gave them five options. They said, "we want you to do the sex one." Is That All He Thinks About? released in January 2007. I told them I wanted to write about in-laws next. The Publishing Committee said in-law books don't sell. A friend suggested I call an agent friend of hers. He said the same thing but had other ideas for me. I signed with Bill Jensen in August 2007 (a little bit backward, since most people find an agent before they get published.)

Thanks to Bilbo, I'm no longer clueless. He shops my proposals around to publishers, negotiates my contracts (gets me bigger advances and more free copies and bigger royalty percentages), and gives me loads of encouragement--all for a very-reasonable 15%. He came up with the (brilliant) title of my newest release, Changing Your World One Diaper at a Time, and he's the one who suggested I try a gift book. (Expectant Prayers releases with Howard Books in January 2009.)

I have lots more ideas, and when I get a proposal ready, Bill will look it over and take it from there. He makes it painless for me.

Soooo...I haven't really answered any of your questions, have I? You now know the long version of my story and still aren't any closer to publishing your own stuff. Never fear! I have 2 great links for you to check out. One is Mary DeMuth's blog called Wanna Be Published ? She's a published author and gives out fabulous free advice. The other one is Rachelle Gardner's blog, Rants and Ramblings. She's a literary agent, and again, offers fabulous free advice for aspiring writers. These two women will explain how to find an agent, submit your work to him/her, and all that other important stuff.

Go read their blogs. If you have questions, feel free to e-mail me. I'm living my dream, and if you want it bad enough, you can too.