Starting Something New by Vonnie Davis

And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings. ~ Meister Eckhart

For the past year, I've been working on two series of three books each. A contemporary firemen's series set in Clearwater, Florida for Harper Impulse and a bear-shifter series set in the Highlands of Scotland for Random House. Six books that I hope to have finished by April 6th, when the final books of each series are due.

That's right. Two books to two different publishers on the same day. My ex-agent said she forgot to look at my first contract and the dates in it before she encouraged me to take contract number two. My fault: keep a calendar with all your due dates in it, so when a new contract comes rolling in, you can check for yourself. Or, as we like to say, take charge of your life.

I had 3 weeks between the submission dates of two books. Now, I don't know about you, but it takes me a tad longer than 3 weeks to write a full-length book. I had to ask my editor for an extension which went against my work ethic. In every job I've held, I've always met my deadlines.

So, here's where the bit of insanity slips in.

I'm ready--eager, really--to start my next series for Random House. But first, I'm taking a break. I've already had the nervous breakdown. Thanks to too many deadlines too close together. This year, one publisher, one series, one locale. I mean, I can't tell you the times I had my firemen in Florida speaking with a Scottish brogue! The Delete key became my BFF.

 

 

 

I don't think making mistakes is a bad thing. Not always. I learned a lot about myself through this process of over-extension. I've also learned to say, "No." And, at sixty-six, it's about time, don't you think? But society tells us to take on more, to do more, to achieve more. Sometimes we lose the joyous and renewing state of just being, of observing, of listening, of enjoying people important to us. Last year went by in a blur of words. This year, I hope the treadmill slows down....after all, I'm retired!

 

Here's my book trailer for A HIGHLANDER'S OBSESSION that was one of Amazon's best sellers last year, well, for a month anyhow.

 

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Rejection Can Take You Backward or Forward by Vonnie Davis

We look on rejection as a step backward, but that’s not always so. My divorce, for example, was a huge painful step backward. But because of it, I was free to meet my Calvin which was a lovely, gigantic leap forward for my heart.

Sometimes pain leads to happiness. So does rejection.

Last January, my agent sent an email to her romance writers that Carina Press had a call out for Christmas novellas. She listed the desired word count and other particulars. It's a chance to move ahead to a larger publisher, I thought, and interest sparked.

So, I wrote like a fiend to meet the deadline ... and got rejected.

A step backward.

I’ll confess the rejection stung. It was my first and brought along a passel of self-doubts. When I told my agent to send the manuscript back so I could rework it, she claimed she’d already sent Santa Wore Leathers on to other publishers. I groaned inwardly. More rejection was bound to come.

A month later, a contract offer came from HarperImpulse. Ah, a step forward.

The next week, my agent called again. “Vonnie, I need the first three chapters of that paranormal you’re working on. Oh, and a synopsis. An editor at Random House loved your novella, but since you’ve already got a contract, she asked if you had anything else she could see. Isn’t that great?”

Irritation rolled in my stomach. “What have you done? This paranormal is my play story. I piddle with it whenever I hit a rough spot in my current WIP. It’s not meant for publication. I don’t write paranormal. It’s just a play story.” I was repeating myself out of nervous fear.

“Well, play story or not, we’ve got another Big Six editor interested. Send me the three chapters and write up a synopsis.”

I felt myself sliding backwards. How could I write a synopsis of nothing?

The editor at Random House loved A Highlander's Beloved--bear shifters and all--and contracted it, offering options on three more. A big step forward.

Rejection can be a step backward. Or in my case, a few steps forward. Santa Wore Leathers led to a three-book contract from Harper-Impulse.

2014’s going to be a busy year. I hope yours if full of steps forward, too.

** Learn more about Vonnie at www.vonniedavis.com