Diversifying Your Writing Career by Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman

There's a lot of talk recently about self- and indie publishing. I've even read an article in RWR (magazine for Romance Writers of America) about it. I'm thrilled to have Vannetta Chapman today as she shares how she's diversifying her brand and markets. ~ Angie

Thanks for having me on your blog!

I’d love to tell you about my new release, HIDDEN, but before I do how about I tell you when I wrote HIDDEN? You might be surprised! I wrote the first draft of it in 2009. Wowzer. That was 5 years ago. I had an agent at the time, but we had not sold a book yet. I loved this story—loved it so much that I wrote book 2, which we also didn’t sell. We’d get to pub committee, and they’d say “no!” every time. I don’t know why. I think romantic suspense was waning in 2009.

So my agent asked me to write Amish and I did. Since then I’ve published Amish romance novels, Amish murder mysteries, Amish novellas, Amish short stories – yeah, a lot of Amish. And it’s been fun! I’ve published 10 books, with my first being A Simple Amish Christmas in 2010. I like to say that I can write whatever a publisher needs – as long as I get to pick the characters. The story is ALL about characters for me.

I have 6 more books coming out in the next 2 years, but my mind kept going back to HIDDEN. I really liked this story. I like the characters and the pace. I like the action! So my agent again submitted it. We heard a lot of “maybe she can’t be successful outside the Amish genre.” We heard a lot of “no!” One smaller publisher offered us a contract, but I decided to pass and publish it independently. I wanted to try that side of things. I wanted to set the price where readers could afford it ($3.99 ebook).

I like being a “hybrid” author. I enjoy publishing books on my own, and I enjoy working with publishers. For me it’s not an “either/or” question – it’s a matter of coordinating the two different styles of publishing.

So what about you? Have you faced discouragement but sauntered on? Writing is all about perseverance, and my prayer is that you will persevere in your dream to be published and share your story.

Hidden
by Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. She writes Amish mysteries for Zondervan, Amish romances for Harvest House and Amish novellas for Abingdon and Zondervan. All of her books have been Christian Book Distributor bestsellers. Her first self-published book is an inspirational romantic suspense titled Hidden. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

About HIDDEN
DANA JACOBS is supervisor in charge of the Department of Homeland Security in Taos, New Mexico. BENJAMIN MARSHALL is newly assigned to Dana’s office. Straight from a six year military deployment, he is not what Dana wants or needs. Ben knows God has a reason for putting him in this place at this time—to help Dana. When a local school is threatened, they open a case which leads them on a chase through the Enchanted Circle and Carson National Forest, pursuing a man filled with a bitterness Dana can understand. But her anger is different. It’s justified, it remains hidden inside, and it hurts no one. Can Dana face her own mortality? And when she does, can she truly understand what it means to forgive and to be forgiven?

Link
http://vannettachapman.com/books/hidden/