Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Meaning of Success and a Book Give-A-Way by Jannine Gallant

One of our topics this month is Expect Success. I started thinking about what that means, exactly, and whether or not I’m successful in my writing career. The first thing that popped into my mind was Success = Wealth. Hmmm… When it comes to book sales, let’s just say I’m not laughing all the way to the bank. So I’m going to skip hastily past point number 1 and on to point number 2 Success = Happiness. I can honestly say that writing makes me happy. Taking an idea and turning it into a story with a beginning, middle, and happily ever after end makes me glow with accomplishment. Editing until my work sounds smooth and professional gives me a thrill. Even the promotion, though at times a little frightening and time consuming, is rewarding. So, yes, writing makes me very happy. Point number 3 Success = A Favorable Outcome (I cheated and looked that one up in the dictionary!) Has the outcome to my writing been favorable? I’d have to say yes. Reviews of my work have been positive. Getting feedback from a reader who thought my book was wonderful does more than boost my ego. It justifies all the hours I spend writing. I’m making people happy, and to me that spells success!

I hope my latest book, Bittersweet, (released yesterday!) will make readers happy. I wrote this story years ago, put it through too many rewrites to count, and am happy to say it is now available through Whiskey Creek Press. Out of all the books I’ve written, this one holds a special place in my heart. There is just something about these characters that grabbed me and held on tight from the very beginning. They wouldn’t let me give up until their story was told. I hope you’ll feel the same way.


Blurb:

Eight months after her husband is killed in a train robbery, Tess Moran knows she must pick up the pieces of her shattered life and build a future for herself and her infant daughter. Daniel Moran’s love for Tess is bittersweet. Acting on his feelings for his sister-in-law will betray his dead brother’s memory. Watching her search for love elsewhere may very well destroy him.
In 1880, life in rural Colorado is filled with hard work and simple pleasures, but trouble looms on the horizon. Together Tess and Daniel battle drought and the outlaw who killed the man they both loved, but the greatest challenge of all is finding solace for their battered hearts.

I’m pleased to give away a PDF copy of Bittersweet to one lucky commenter. Tell us what success means to you and leave your email address in the comments if you’d like to be entered into the drawing.

For more information on my other titles visit my Website, friend me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.

Wishing you all a successful day!

14 comments:

JenaGalifany said...

Bittersweet sounds like my kind of story and I wish you all the best with it. Success, to me, is being content no matter what is happening with my life. I lost my job but I have my book store and my writing. I lost my medical insurance but I have my health. I lost my son-in-law in a car accident 6 years ago, but I have the beautiful Granddaughter that he gave my daughter. I don't have much but what I've got is success!

Cheers!
jena_galifany@yahoo.com

VampedChik said...

Sound like a great story! I would love to read it! Thank you so much for sharing!
-Amber
goodblinknpark@yahoo.com

LaVerne Clark said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous cover Jannine! You must be thrilled - and it seems to reflect the story so well. I agree with all of your measures of success. If I ever lost the love of writing, I wouldn't do it anymore - but its one of the greatest loves in my life and makes me happy (when it isn't making me crazy!) Thats success to me :)

clarksnelson (at) clear (dot) net (dot) nz

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Jannine,
Bittersweat sounds like a great story. Lovely cover too. Yes, it is very gratifying when a reader says she loves your book. Makes all the hard slog worth while.

Regards

Margaret

Colleen Connally said...

Absolutely beautiful cover. Good luck with your release. I would expect the reviews to come back in just a wonderful as those in the past!

Jannine Gallant said...

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I do love this cover - and the story behind it. Writers are a tough bread, persevering for the love of what we do.

Alison Henderson said...

Welcome to the wonderful world of Westerns, Jannine! My two pubbed Westerns are also books of my heart written many years ago. I know just how you feel about Bittersweet - it is wonderful to see those special stories published. I love the sound of Bittersweet, and the cover is beautiful. Wishing you every success with this one!
Alison

Laura Breck said...

Bittersweet sounds like a wonderful book, Jannine. I wish you much 'success' with your new release.

Jana Richards said...

Success in writing is difficult to measure by ordinary means. Like you, I wish I was making more money (I was just compiling info for tax season and I'm slightly depressed). But it's what makes me happy and as long as I think I'm putting out a good product, and as long as I believe I'm growing as a writer, then I'll keep at it.

Best of luck with "Bitterweet".

Jana

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

A thought-provoking post. Success, I feel, is happiness with where you life is at, right now, today.

Wishing you great success with the book of your heart. Great sales. Positive reviews.

Jannine Gallant said...

I agree, ladies, happiness is the true measure of success!

Katherine said...

Hi Jannine,
Success to me is being able to control my own time -- in plainer words, not having to punch a clock on that day job. Being able to write when I want, take a day off without having to worry if what's on my desk can wait a day, or having to deal with office politics. While, I'm not successful yet (still have that day job), I'm striving to reach it by writing as much as I can and that makes me happy where I am right now.

Love your cover and blurb. Sounds like a great book. Hope you have lots of sales. :o)

Katherine
Katherineg425@yahoo.com

Jannine Gallant said...

And the winner is... VampedChik! Congratulations, Amber, you won a PDF copy of Bittersweet. I'll email it to you today. Enjoy!

Literary Chanteuse said...

Well success definitely needs to be accessed individually. For me it is finding an inner peace and happiness because without that no other type of success could be as rewarding. Thank you for the giveaway!

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com