Rejection and Triumph: 20 Years as a Pre-Published Novelist

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 33 Comments

I'm off to Atlanta, Georgia for the Novel Experience Reader Convention, but I've invited Stephanie Faris to keep you all entertained and inspired with her story of the road to publication :)

So...Welcome Stephanie!! 
said the word “aspiring writer” wasn’t quite accurate, since we were, in effect, writing. We just weren’t yet published.

I was pre-pubbed for 20 years. Okay, so several of those years I was sidetracked, spending far too much time blogging on MySpace to a large readership. I also spent far too many years doing everything but writing—attending conferences, serving on the board of my local writers’ group, etc. It’s far too easy to get caught up in the process of learning to be a writer and far too difficult to face that blank page head-on.

Why am I now a published novelist? One word: perseverance. I was rejected over and over and over again. I spent more than a decade as a “pre-published” romance novelist and saw many of my fellow Music City Romance Writers members get published long before I was. But, when I really think about it, the successful writers were the minority. For every Trish Milburn, there were probably a dozen hopeful writers who attended meetings for a while, then vanished. Where did they go? Chances are, they moved on to another pursuit. Some of them may still have aspirations of getting a novel published…someday. It’s easy to procrastinate once you’ve felt the bitter sting of rejection.

Why did I keep writing? It’s part of who I am. I probably write 5,000 words a day as a blogger for marketing firms and online magazines located around the globe. Writing is as natural to me as breathing and, when you find something you’re good at, it’s pretty hard for someone to stop you. Especially if you’re stubborn!

Late for My Dates!

12:27 PM Elizabeth Seckman 30 Comments

I am over at the lovely Leigh Covington's....sharing the picture we hope our husband's never find!!

I'm late getting this posted. Totally forgot. Yesterday was one of THOSE days.

There was some good. Got to spend some time with Carter (boy#3). He recently turned 16, so that means driver's license! He passed. Yay.

Now, I have to notify my insurance company. Boo.

Then as the DMV filled up and we stood in line forever to get his shiny new verification of this added expense (oops...I mean, rite of passage)...that got us to our eye exam at Sears eleven minutes late. I stood within three feet of the associate as she helped (by helped, I mean chatted about her kids and their ER visits) another customer for thirteen minutes (yes, I was keeping track). When she finally acknowledged I was there, she said she wasn't sure I could be seen...I was twenty-four minutes late.

I told her I was eleven minutes late. I'd been standing there for thirteen minutes listening to her entire conversation about her boy getting his ear caught on the fishing hook while riding his bike, the broken collar bone, and the stitches.

Now, I knew I was late. Had she said as I walked in the door...you're late- sorry, we filled your appointment. I'd have left feeling at fault. But as I haggled with her over what time I actually arrived, I had the thought. If I treated a reader like this, they'd probably tell me to go to hell. Why was I any less worthy?

So, I said, very politely, "Just cancel my appointment...and the other five appointments for the rest of my family."

Would I prefer to reschedule?

Certainly not. There is a long list of available eye doctors in my area. I think I will find one who is looking to keep customers.

Respect. Appreciation. Those things go a long way.

M. Pax- Mullet Conundrum

8:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 49 Comments

Fantasy, science fiction, and the weird beckons to M. Pax, and she blames Oregon for that, a source of endless inspiration. She docents at Pine Mountain Observatory in the summers, teaching the public about the stars and the galaxy. A Bachelors of Science in Journalism, she had former lives in marketing and television before settling down to write. Want to know more? mpaxauthor.com
photo credit: geoftheref via photopin cc

I Love Me.

8:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 53 Comments

TL Watson is hosting the Self-Lovin' Blog Hop.

Want to check out the other posts in the hop? Clickety click HERE.

Tara wants to know...what am I awesome at?

Well now, let me see...

I'd never feel comfortable enough to say I rock at anything in the writing/publishing world.

But I will say I have the sort of nature that keeps me in the game long after many say the heck with it.

You see...it all started with my birth...(you're thinking that's a joke, right? Ha!)

Anyhow, according to my mother, the Corkster, she had four children...two boys; two girls. She and my father were done. D-O-N-E. No more kids!!!

But~ seems little old eggy me defied a tubal and got herself conceived. Woot woot. Raise the roof and skip that period. I'm on my way!!

Or so I would have thought. Seems the Corkster's docs had a different opinion. :(

My mother was post thirty, had a slew of medical issues, and had been taking some meds that didn't go hand in hand with a healthy pregnancy.

In the doctors wise opinion...my mother should terminate and have a hysterectomy.When my mom objected, she was assured I would be born mentally handicapped (don't even make the joke- I had four older siblings- I've heard all about the doc being right!).

But my mom refused; my dad agreed...with the prediction I would be born blond haired, brown eyed, and be named Elizabeth.

The moral to the story?

I am just freaking happy to be here.

I know the difference between a hassle and a crisis.

A rejection? That's a hassle.

A malignant tumor? That's a problem.

A bad review? That's a hassle.

Living in the Ukraine? That's a problem.

I could go on...but I think you get it. I'm not the kind of gal that cries and moans over the bad food served at the party. I'm just excited as hell that I got invited!!

Now...have you guys checked these books out? I haven't read them yet, but they are totally on my to read lists! 

Carrie Butler!

Blackmail and vigilantism hold no consequence for Cole Blake, until an error in judgment stops him dead in his super-accelerated tracks. Now burdened with the closest thing he’s ever had to a conscience, he must own up to his past and fight his darker impulses—before it’s too late to shield those he actually cares about.

Check out Honesty's web page!


Buy it Here! .99 cents!!!



Lisa Regan!

After saving her daughter from a car-jacking, off-duty police detective Jocelyn Rush ends up in the ER. The last person she expects to run into is Anita Grant, former prostitute. In spite of  Anita's injuries—mutilated hands and feet—Anita refuses to talk about what happened. Reluctantly, Jocelyn backs off, and Anita's case goes to Philadelphia’s Special Victims Unit.

Before long, Jocelyn is pulled into the SVU’s investigation. Anita is finally ready to talk, but only to Jocelyn. Her story is harrowing, even to a seasoned veteran like Jocelyn. Someone is preying on prostitutes, viciously assaulting and mutilating them.

Buy it HERE!!


Mary Ting Cover Reveal! (writing as M. Clarke)

photo credit: Mike-wise via photopin cc photo credit: Navy Blue Stripes via photopin cc

Feeling Twitchy, Punk?

5:51 PM Elizabeth Seckman 45 Comments

Feeling a bit brain fried. I spent Monday with my mother at one of those appointments that last from lunch to dinner. Woke up on Tuesday to no internet.

Waiting in Deep

8:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 72 Comments

Every now and then, people get the opportunity to be multiply blessed with talent.

Sandi Morgan Denkers is one of those gals.

She just published her first book, Waiting in Deep, and she has some serious artistic talent.

A South Carolina native, she returned to Spartanburg in 1985 after leaving the Air Force. She is a graphic artist by trade, she is also a fine artist, a lover of words and a lover of all things southern.

You can check out Sandi's website HERE, where books can be purchased at a discount. They are also available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Revealing and Swapping...

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 43 Comments

Buy from Curiosity Quills Press!

Jamie Ayres writes young adult love stories by night and teaches young adults as a middle school English teacher by day.

Mrs. West Virginia

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 52 Comments

She may wear the crown, but it's family first. Missy with husband Joe and boys: Erickson and Jackson Eli.

I'd like to give a major congrats to my cousin's daughter...she was just crowned Mrs. West Virginia, USA!

Missy is a wonderful mommy, wife, and college student. Being the princess in the family (she has three big
brothers!) came naturally to her, though being officially crowned was a lot of work. As with any dream, making them come true takes hard work, practice, and dedication.

Way to go Missy!!

Missy and her mom, Teresa Jackson. Yeah, we have good genes ;)

I'm done bragging. Let's move on...

Thanks Suzy Turner for the chance to yack about myself in the "My Writing Process" blog tour. 

Virgin No More: IWSG Post

12:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 145 Comments

Find out more HERE!

I joined the blogosphere under personal duress. A self-imposed, be professional, and get your butt out there if you ever want to sell books event.

I did not want to blog.

I just wanted to write books.

My gut told me there were very few short cuts to the top, and my freaking muse kept hiding the get lucky map.

So, with the help of my then fourteen-year-old son, Cole, we created my bloggy spot.

I hit publish on my maiden post, From Boas to Reality,  on March 12, 2011.

My misgivings about "going public" only got worse when Cole came home from school and told me a friend asked him, "Who cares what a lady on 6th Street has to say?"

I asked Cole if he thought I should take it down. He said, "I think you should quit worrying about what jerks think."

But still. The insecurity. The beast that dwells deep in our soul and asks us over and over, "Who do you think you are? Trying to chase a dream...scrub the toilet...save this for the smart people with connections to New York. You're just a lady on 6th Street in a tiny hillbilly town."

I'd even pray that God would give me another dream. Maybe a desire to quilt...or run marathons.

Stories still came to me. Characters kept whispering in my ear. The only outlet was to keep writing.

Then one afternoon, author, Anita Baker (AG Howard) sent me a Blog on Fire award and an email telling me she enjoyed my work. She was my first non-family/writer friend follower.

Then I got a follow by Ashley Nixon. I knew nothing of blog courtesy and protocol, but instinct told me to follow the pretty face back to her blog and follow her and start reading her posts. Next thing I knew, I was getting advice from Cassie Mae and hanging with sweethearts like Leigh Covington and Angie Cothran. I bought Cat and the Dreamer by Annalisa Crawford after reading one of her guest posts. Finished the story in a day and then stalked her blog until she became my friend.

While traversing this new network, one could not escape the shadow of Alex Cavanaugh and the IWSG. I wasn't going to join, because honestly, what did I know? But then Alex would stop by my blog and eventually I thought, what the heck...everyone else is doing it.

So, July 5, 2012, I posted my IWSG Virgin post.

And now, almost three years from my first blog post...I get it.

I understand that the blogosphere is way more than a platform builder: it's a sanity saver, a network builder, and a knowledge base. The crazy part wasn't starting the blog. The crazy part was NOT starting sooner.
Happy almost three year blogoversary to me. If you'd told me on March 12, 2011 that I would be co-hosting the IWSG today...I'd have told you to keep dreaming Alice, Wonderland is just around the corner.

But I am. That crazy Alex put his trust in me, so here I am...along with some amazing friends/writers:
Tina Downey, Elsie, and Julie Flanders. 

Baby steps. And friends to lean on. That's how we get from point A to point Z...speaking of which: 

Are you signed up?  And Check this out!

                                                                     Jay's book is on sale
                                                                       for just .99 cents!
                                                                       Get Yours Here!!
                                                                     

Covered!

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 25 Comments

Instagram: http://instagram.com/kyralennon

Lyndsay is a new friend and fellow Daydreamer, and she is about (maybe is?) to become a new mommy, so I am more than happy to help a new mommy out!




Lyndsay grew up in the wide expanses of Texas, where the only thing stronger than the accents was the state pride. An over-active imagination, tale-telling father, and encouraging librarian mother lead to her love of all things creative.