My Journey To Publication Part 2

Watching the final episode of America's Got Talent I listened to Michael Grimm's long and arduous journey to that stage. Seeing the expression on his face when he won, I realized I, too, had made the right decision to go out and find my audience.

I've decided to use WENTZEL FARM for my debut novel instead of NOTCH.

I am thoroughly enjoying designing and creating the cover art.

I visited the online Kindle Community. There are hundreds of readers and authors in there. I haven't introduced myself yet.

I've read all about Smashwords and CreateSpace. Learned the step-by-step process for uploading a story for Amazon Kindle. My manuscript is currently being read and prepped for submission.

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Coffee Break

September-- On my last Coffee Break I said I had good news. Not anymore. A literary agent's assistant requested the full manuscript of one of my novels, then, not long after, emailed a form rejection stating she couldn't connect with the voice. The same voice I used in the query and a 5-page sample? That voice?

Another hit'n miss puts me in mind of an Elton John song. "What have I got to do to be heard?" This is one of the many reasons why I decided to go digital. Remember, I've been doing the submission/rejection routine for twelve years. It may've been an overnight decision, but I started thinking about epublishing a long time ago.

Now, which novel? I believe all of them have mass appeal.

WENTZEL FARM [psychological thriller] is the first in a proposed series but can stand alone, as well.

The Blaze trilogy [mystery] is one story divided into three equal parts [see LORD OF THE RINGS]. SMOKE is done. The first draft of FIRE is also done. Book 3, ASHES, only has a basic synopsis.

NOTCH, a stand-alone mystery [see excerpt below], is the only logical choice for my first ebook. The first draft is done, but I still have a lot of work to do before I can submit it to Amazon.

I'm very excited about the real possibility of getting my story in the hands of readers. I've sacrificed and struggled most of my life. I'm ready for this. Other writers have found great success in ebooks. Who's to say I can't?

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New Book Releases For September

APE HOUSE
by Sara Gruen -- http://saragruen.com/

BY NIGHTFALL
by Michael Cunningham -- http://www.michaelcunninghamwriter.com/

FALL OF GIANTS [The Century Trilogy Book 1]
by Ken Follett -- http://www.ken-follett.com/home/index.html

HALF EMPTY
by David Rakoff -- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5855.David_Rakoff

HOW TO LIVE SAFELY IN A SCIENCE FICTIONAL UNIVERSE
by Charles Yu -- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/221608.Charles_Yu

OUR TRAGIC UNIVERSE
by Scarlett Thomas -- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53597.Scarlett_Thomas

ROOM
by Emma Donoghue -- http://www.emmadonoghue.com/

SAFE HAVEN
by Nicholas Sparks -- http://nicholassparks.com/

SQUIRREL SEEKS CHIPMUNK: A MODEST BESTIARY
by David Sedaris -- http://literati.net/Sedaris/

THE ELEPHANT'S JOURNEY
by Jose Saramago, Margaret Jull Costa [translator] -- http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/05/entertainment/la-ca-jose-saramago-20100905

ZERO HISTORY
by William Gibson -- http://www.williamgibsonbooks.com/

BEFORE YOU SUFFOCATE YOUR OWN FOOL SELF
by Danielle Evans -- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3412933.Danielle_Evans

MADAME BOVARY
by Gustave Flaubert -- http://booksellers.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670022076,00.html

From: http://contemporarylit.about.com/od/newreleases/tp/september-2010-books.01.htm
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Nothing Ventured....

Some things in life are a crapshoot, but you can't have great rewards without taking risks, and you can't move forward if you remain caught up in the old ways of doing business. You have to take control of your own destiny. [see Gone Fishin']

I may not be the best writer in the world but I am a damn good storyteller. Therefore, after hearing what authors Seth Godin, J.A. Konrath, and many others have said about epublishing, I've decided to submit one of my completed novels to Amazon Kindle.

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Gone Fishin'

I've worked very hard this year. Numerous queries for two manuscripts were sent out. The first drafts of two new novels have been completed. Three short stories are on submission to magazines. And, research for Book 2 of WENTZEL FARM is done. The time has come for me to take a real break from writing.

I do my best thinking on the water.

What I have to think about is this: Do I want to continue down the same old dreary path toward publication where, after twelve years, there's still no end in sight? [see Feb. post titled My Journey] Or is it time to take a brighter and shorter route?

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Remembering September 11, 2001

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Notch

Twenty years, two trials and numerous secrets ensue after a teenaged girl is murdered.

Excerpt--

"Now, tell me about the girl," said Sheriff Morgan.

God, here we go again. The words were at the back of Kevin's mind, but he was terrified to bring them forward. This was the part they'd all been waiting to hear. The part where they would decide exactly what his role in all of this had been. Like dogs in heat they all want a piece of me. His throat closed. He counted three dead flies on the narrow windowsill. A fourth lay on its back fitfully flailing its legs in some sort of macabre death dance.

Morgan leaned closer. "Talk to me, Kevin."

Kevin fixed his gaze on the drab gray wall farthest away from the door of the interrogation room. "She was lying on her left side...." There ain't no stoppin' us now, girlie, he recalled Jasper telling the redhead the night the three of them went to the abandoned meat packing plant to have a little fun. He scratched his forehead, hiding his expression. Or was it the blonde he'd said that to?

NOTCH - Mystery Novel - First Draft Completed
Copyright 2010 Sharon Austin All Rights Reserved
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