Only the Beginning

Hi, Janet here.

My debut novel Courting Miss Adelaide releases September 9. Maybe that’s why I feel the need to look back at this journey toward publication and recall the steps that brought me here.

At twelve, I wrote and illustrated little romances—always drawing my heroine in profile with a cascading mane of hair. Only to set the dream aside for a career in teaching, followed by marriage and caring for two daughters.

Then one day I woke up to the passing of years and the shock that I’d never tried to accomplish my dream of writing a book. I didn’t aspire to publish, merely wanted to see if I could get a story on the page. So I began with three women and endless dialogue, all going no where. I knew it wasn’t working, but I not only didn’t know how to fix it. Worse, I was terrified I couldn’t.

I was a big fan of Erma Bombeck. I read her newspaper column and books and watched her on morning television. Concerned about her breast cancer diagnosis, I sent her a note and mentioned I’d always wanted to write, but feared failure. She sent me a typewritten reply and said something that gave me insight into what was wrong: “Get thee to the typewriter. You can have the greatest story in the world inside your head, but if you don’t put it down on paper, you have nothing.” Unknowingly, Erma nailed my problem. You see, I didn’t have a story inside my head. In fact, when it came to writing books, I didn’t have much inside my head.

But I took Erma's advice. I love to read historical romances so I sat at a word processor and plotted a marriage of convenience story set in Texas. I took two years to write that book. When I finished, I wrote Erma to tell her I had typed "The End," and to let her know I was praying for her kidney ailment. She sent a handwritten postcard congratulating me on my accomplishment and telling me her recovery was slow. The last postcard I have is from her family, thanking me for the Get Well card I sent that arrived after her death following complications from kidney transplant surgery. I grieved for Erma. But celebrated the words she left behind—her gift of laughter and insight into the human soul.

I titled that first manuscript Bleeding Heart. It was peppered with POV errors, head hopping and exclamation points. Worse, my heroine didn’t drive the action. Instead things happened to her, poor thing. But I didn’t know these were problems. Author, speaker and educator Dr. Dennis Hensley told me about Romance Writers of America. I found my area chapter, and from that, my critique partner, Shirley Jump. As we say in our plots—there was no turning back. I discovered ignorance isn’t bliss. I had lots of learning to do. Because now I knew writing a book was no longer enough. I wanted to sell it.

I read How To books, took classes, attended conferences and took workshops. I got a weekly dose of reality from my cp Shirley. I entered contests and took the judges’ comments to heart. I started to final in some. I was flying high. About this time a writer friend Sue, aka Elizabeth Guest with over 30 books in print commented writing was hard work. Well, I was still in the new puppy stage. You know, jumping and yapping with energy and joy, full of myself. By now I’d written another book. It was much better. It even won some contests. Filled with optimism, I felt certain it would sell. But it didn’t.

I turned to inspirational romances. I loved the faith thread and felt God had me where he wanted me to be. Sure enough, something wonderful happened. Orphaned Hearts was a Golden Heart finalist in 2005. Stolen Hearts finaled in 2006. That first final was a marvelous, joy-filled time. I met Tina, Julie and Myra, three fellow finalists (Myra was our winner) and wonderful women who led me to all the Seekers. But when it came to my dream of publication, nothing changed. I loved historical romances. But the market had tightened. Publishers only bought from established authors. I tumbled from the mountain top to the valley in a matter of weeks.

And then Steeple Hill announced their plan to launch the Love Inspired Historical line. I polished Orphaned Hearts one more time and sent the partial off with a prayer. On June 29, 2006, I got The Call. Over two years later—a long gestation period—my book now titled Courting Miss Adelaide is in print and will be in the stores a month from now. I'm thrilled that Romantic Times gave Courting Miss Adelaide a 4 ½ star review.

I am grateful, amazed, happy, and yes, filled with trepidation. Why trepidation? Lines close. Editors change houses. Rejection is not only a possibility, it happens to pubbed writers, too. My editor bought the second book in the series, Courting the Doctor’s Daughter, to release in May 2009, but then passed on the third book. So I've experienced it first hand. I’m starting another series that excites both my editor and me. A writer's life isn't easy. I totally understand what my friend meant when she said writing is hard work.

But come September 9, I’ll savor the moment when I first see Courting Miss Adelaide on the shelves. I’ll recall the admiration in my grandchildren’s eyes as I opened the box of my author copies. I’ll think of all the wonderful people in my life who encouraged and believed in me like my husband, parents and children. And I’ll think of Erma, a woman I never met, but a woman who took the time to encourage me.

Please share who encouraged or encourages you. Give us a peek at your journey. We all have a story. It's written in our hearts.