My first print book sale seems like a long time ago. Then I counted back and I realised it was…ten years ago.
Ten. Years.
How did that happen? I guess I have had my head down so long, working, writing, marketing, and attending the odd convention or two that I didn’t notice what year it was.
So I’m taking a moment to consider the journey.
Since Chasing the Bard came out in 2005, I’ve moved from being a librarian with writing as my hobby and dream, to being a full-time writer. Over the last two years, writing has saved my family’s bacon, and if I had given up somewhere along the way things would have been impossibly tough.
I’ve moved from small press, to New York, and then onto the hybrid writer life; juggling traditional publishing with my own self publishing efforts.
I’ve learned a lot of skills; from layout and design, to using social media, and how to be a good guest at conventions.
In those ten years, I’ve had twelve books published with DragonMoon Press, Ace, Pyr and Harper Collins. In each case I’ve learned new things, had challenging moments, and experienced the joy of opening that first box of books. That never gets old.
Along the way I’ve had plenty of stumbles. Unfortunately there is no school about how to be an entrepeneur writer. Handling the business side of things is something you have to learn, and I developed another skill to cope with that, spreadsheeting the heck out of numbers.
I’ve been very fortunate to find an agent in Laurie McLean, of Fuse Literary, who has not only been a negotiator, but also a mentor and friend. She’s guided me, and hopefully most of the time I’ve listened, not driving too mad.
I learned to be a collaborator. Even while one story withered on the vine, and my collaborator disappeared from my life, I found another one. Tee Morris has also taught me a lot, and somehow we managed to negotiate how to write not one—but four books together. That still amazes me. I ended up marrying him, and for that I owe to the writing life.
I’ve attended many conventions all over the world, and at them I’ve been lucky to come across some of the most wonderful readers and fans a writer could ever wish for. I still haven’t got any better at knowing what to say when someone says they loved my book, but I adore hearing it. Although I enjoy the spectacle of big events like BEA or New York Comic Con, I love those mid-sized cons the most, because there is so much better chance at interaction.
I’ve met people like the League of Victorian Imagineers, Felicia Day, and the League of STEAM. Fabulous, creative, delightful people.
I’ve taught classes on writing in New Zealand, and spoke at the Library of Congress—one of the two motherships for librarians.
Certainly, sometimes it has been frustrating. Sometimes the words have got stuck. Sometimes I despair. Yet there are worlds out there I have loved to write with, characters that will always stick with me.
Puck. Sorcha. Eliza. Wellington.
Despite all the struggle, this has been a good ten years. Writing has vastly enriched my life, just as reading did when it led me to writing.
So what’s next? Well, I have about four projects to finish, some Ministry related, some brand new. More worlds, more characters, more stories. However, in the next decade I think I’ll remember to look up more now and then and appreciate just what writing has done for my life.
Oh yeah, I forgot…there was that time I got to ride a Jackalope!