Friday, October 20, 2017

A Road Less Taken by Ruth Kyser

Ruth Kyser
No longer is there only one path to publication—writers have many options. Today, author Ruth Kyser shares the road she took, as well as some advice for both new and experienced writers. ~ Dawn




A Road Less Taken

I’ve chosen to take a different route to publication than most of my counterparts. Perhaps it’s because I got a later start in my writing career than most.

Several years ago I received a plaque from my sister. It was a quote from George Eliot:

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”

Back then I was working as an insurance agent in a stressful, full-time job. For years I’d dreamed of becoming an author, but I had never become serious about it. Oh yes; over the years I’d written countless stories. I’d even submitted them to major publishers. One manuscript had even been considered by a publisher for almost a year. Then I received a letter with those dreaded words, “I’m sorry, but your manuscript doesn’t fit our needs at this time.”

Fortunately, I also received a heartfelt note from the editor telling me my writing had promise and he hoped to receive something more from me in the future—and encouraging me not to quit. Several years passed and I suddenly realized one day that if I were ever going to do anything with my writing, I needed to do it NOW. I wasn’t getting any younger, and at this point in my life, I certainly didn’t have time now to submit my work to publishers and wait for months for feedback.

Then my husband gave me a Kindle. I checked out Amazon’s website and quickly discovered the world of self-publishing. 

Becoming an independent publisher/author (‘indies’) fits my life well. I’ve always been a little bit of a renegade, choosing not to do things in the usual fashion.

Seven years and thirteen books later (the fourteenth is being released in November), I still feel as if I’m learning the trade. I’ve also learned that as authors, we need each other’s encouragement more than ever in this solitary, occupation we’ve chosen for ourselves.

So, for what it’s worth, here’s my advice to upcoming authors and veterans alike:



1. Don’t allow discouragement to seep into your life. It’s easy to get depressed when you feel you’ll never finish your current project. Just keep plugging away.

2. Stay grounded in scripture, and take time for prayer.

3. Find a network of other authors. There are online groups of veteran writers who are more than willing to answer your questions.

4. Hire professionals, especially if you are going the Indie route.

5. Don’t quit. Keep writing—no matter what.



And remember, the stories you have to tell can only come from your heart. Study the craft, read the Classics, reflect on the beauty of words, and what you have to say that no one else can say.

Then, and only then, can you write those words the Lord has placed on your heart to share with the world.

May God bless your writing journey, dear friends!





A Place Called Hart's Desire is a contemporary Christian romance, set in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Christian Romance Author Ellie Hathaway escapes for two weeks to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, intent on finishing her book within the deadline. Of course, it only confuses the issue that the cabin she's staying at is the same one her parents originally reserved for her now-defunct honeymoon.

Then Ellie meets the owner's son, Lucas Hart—a widower wracked by grief and with a heart hardened against God. Ellie is immediately drawn to Luke, but she cautions herself against falling for a man so obviously still in love with his dead wife.

Can Ellie help Luke find his way back to God? And in the process, will Ellie's heart be totally broken—or will she also learn to forgive, and love again?



Ruth Kyser is a native Michigander--wife, mother, and grandmother--who writes Christian Inspirational Romance. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and enjoys reading almost as much as she loves writing!

Ruth's Mission Statement: "My goal is to write stories that entertain, but more importantly, educate readers about Jesus Christ and His love for them."


You can learn more and connect with Ruth here: