A note about my blogging

It has come to my attention that when people read my blogs, I am asking for advice and I am sorry if I give that impression. I am sharing what is on my heart. I am being honest  about what I am going through. Sometimes it is response to the comments people have made to my status updates. These people who feels led to  give out suggestions really have no idea what Ia m going through. The Lord told me not to despise small beginnings and I haven't really and it is.  My dream is to  have  my stories published by well known publishers but the ones I have looked up either say "We  accept no manuscripts" or We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts".  A friend once told me that I should get an agent and I have tried. It does not mean that they say my  work is unpolished and I need an editor. Although you may think so. It also does not mean I will give up. It is still my dream and as one friend said, "At least you got your foot in the door" when PA published my first book. Yes, I did and it gave me hope. But real hope came when a good friend of mine encouraged me to get into publication!  At that time I was still unemployed and have no income, but she never said to me, "But before you do, I suggest you hire an editor."
This person believed in me! She saw talent! So when I am writing a blog, it is all about who I am. My  good times and bad times. It gives the readers a glimpse into my private life you might say.  Before this friend encouraged me to get my story published,I wanted to wait til I move to Washington State  and until after I start teaching (Favorable conditions), but sometimes God does not want us to wait until the conditions are favorable. He wants us to trust him and wait upon him  to bring us to  what he  said will do. Often times God's people took a step of faith and that is what I did.  So please do not think that I am  asking you for advice. I am not. If I  need one from you, I will let you know. I will ask you"What do you think?"

Wishing for a Miracle

http://pred-ed.com/pubwarn.htm

Well, after viewing the warnings ti look for when it comes to publishers and agents, I have found that my publisher PublishAmerica, fits the warnings listed. Sigh. I want to advise anyone looking for a publisher that I strongly do not recommend Publish America. I wish I would follow my instinct when I knew a friend was  having problems with them herself.  I did not. Another friend whom I highly respect, said she highly recommend them so I submitted to them, signed  a contract and now Marge belongs to them. Sigh. I feel like Marge. She so wanted out of the contract she was almost  tricked to sign. She was not interested in change life, but she was stuck  with a two years contract. Me? Ten years. According to what I read, any books  published by publishers like them will not be on a best seller list. They set their books they published at such a high price as a deterrent  to keep people from ordering so much of their books. Instead they sell it a discount only to the author but expect them to buy it bulk. (For instance, the author can  buy twenty books at 2.99 each) if it less than its 9.95 each. I learn that the hard way.  I never even got a free copy and I never will.  There were other warnings to look for that I saw PA written all over it.


If  another author did not send me a message on Facebook, I would never know. I mainly went Predators&Editors  so I can see how the they review publishers for another story.  I know it may be highly impossible to become a best selling author because of who they are, but I can still wish for a miracle.  Some would say "Well, at least you learn from that."  I still believe that I am best selling author and I am asking God to work in my favor. I need to also find a publisher who is willing to accept my second romance novel.

The DollHouse Mystery

Okay. I admit. This book is written for children, but the reason why I read Carolyn Greene's book was for  research only.   I had written a mystery already and  had not received word from the two agents. I guess its not good enough for them. Most Mysteries written for adults  have more than 100 pages and mostly is a murder mystery. I am not gifted to write like our current mystery writers. My first book is a romance so maybe God has given me the ability to write romance stories.

The book I read is a Nancy Drew book about a young detective accused of stealing the furniture from a dollhouse. One of Mrs Rutledge's granddaughter accused Nancy of  doing it and Nancy sets out to find the real culprit which is the other granddaughter who did not want Nancy to play with the furniture.  After reading this, I have found that murder mysteries are not for children. It is not like Nancy   is called upon to solve someone's murder but that the crime happen to people she is in contact with. Perhaps I can write similar stories, but need to read more to get more ideas.

Dealing with competition

It is not really competition because I doubt she  is competing against me although I felt she was overshadowing me. A dear friend whom I respect and valued dealt me a blow and I am still reeling over it. The blow? She just had a book publish and her friends are singing her praises.  Karla and I share some friends in common so when my book was published and I let everyone know, who was singing mine? Only one and that is another dear friend of mine.  It is hard for me to deal with it.  I love Karla very much but when I  wrote to her about my book, she said something to the affect, "I don't read."  I never once asked her to buy my book although she was mentioned in the acknowledgement.  Her cover on her book  looks better than mine and what are the odds her book will sell better than mine?  She could very easily publicize her new book better than me.  Oh how I hate having no income. Here I am saving for who knows what? WordPress.com or AuthorsDen? I really don't know which way to go. Maybe what I should do is have a book signing anyway. Save up to order more books from PA and ask Target (Not Walmart) or some other business if I can host a book signing in their business. Or I could  call up Barnes and Noble and ask them.  This is something I need to pray about.  It is hard for me to trust God in this situation but I am trying. I just pray he will give me the grace I need to make it though another insignificant day