{"id":5353,"date":"2012-06-11T03:00:21","date_gmt":"2012-06-11T10:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=5353"},"modified":"2012-06-08T14:01:15","modified_gmt":"2012-06-08T21:01:15","slug":"rewriting-the-publishing-dream-guest-post-by-karen-lenfestey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2012\/06\/11\/rewriting-the-publishing-dream-guest-post-by-karen-lenfestey\/","title":{"rendered":"Rewriting the Publishing Dream, Guest Post by Karen Lenfestey"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

What does it take to be a successful author? It may not be what you think.<\/em> Here’s the story from guest columnist, Karen Lenfestey, author of A Sister’s Promise<\/a><\/em>\"\".<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ever since I can remember, I\u2019ve wanted to be a writer, but until recently hadn\u2019t had much luck. When my parents banished me to my room as a child (probably for something my brother had done), I wrote stories to entertain myself. I didn\u2019t know anything about scene or sequel, but I loved the feel of my pen dancing across the page.<\/p>\n

As I grew older, I realized that creativity wouldn\u2019t provide a steady paycheck. I went to college and found a \u201creal job.\u201d Eventually my desire to write blossomed again. I picked up a book on how to plot and in the evenings, I wrote a novel. I sent it off to publishers and received one encouraging reply. This was enough to keep me going. Over time, I wrote more novels, attended writer\u2019s conferences and joined an honest yet supportive, critique group. It had taken me years to find the courage to share my words with others, but this was an essential step in polishing my manuscript.<\/p>\n

I queried every agent I could find that represented women\u2019s fiction and once again, received a few encouraging rejections. Deep down I knew I\u2019d written a compelling story. And if it <\/em>wasn\u2019t good enough, why bother trying to write another one?<\/p>\n

Sensing my frustration, Judy Post, a fellow author, suggested I publish with Amazon. Around that same time, I read an article in Newsweek<\/em> about Boyd Morrison who published e-books. When his sales took off, a traditional publisher finally showed interest in his work.<\/p>\n

So I put my novel, A Sister’s Promise<\/a>\"\"<\/em>, on Kindle. I told all of my friends and family about it in my Christmas letter. I figured I\u2019d be lucky if I sold 15 copies. It took a few weeks, but I sold my 15 then kept selling. I wrote a press release to the local news media and my sales jumped a little. I asked all of my friends to mention it on their Facebook pages. Eventually, my sales snowballed. I checked daily and discovered that I actually sold books overnight while I was asleep in bed. Within three months I\u2019d sold over 2,000 copies and A Sister’s Promise<\/a>\"\"<\/em>\u00a0became the top selling book about siblings on Amazon. Soon, sales will hit 30,000.<\/p>\n

I tell you all of this, not to brag, but to offer an alternative to the writer\u2019s vision. For me, I didn\u2019t set out to make money. I just wanted to share my words with others. If it were about money, I should\u2019ve published several books at once.<\/p>\n

I still long to see a copy of my novel on a book store shelf, but I wonder if I shouldn\u2019t adjust my definition of success a little bit. After all, the royalties on my e-book provide a nice, if unpredictable, income. Best of all, people are reading and enjoying my books. That\u2019s all I really wanted.<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s time to reconsider my dream. I\u2019d be pleased if a publisher showed interest, but I\u2019m pretty darn happy right now. After all, I\u2019ve found a job I not only love\u2014but one that pays me while I sleep!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tips for Success:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n