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| Dennis Brooke |
How
long have you dreamed of getting your book published? Do you envy other writers
who seem to experience overnight success? Have you ever considered you might be
better off taking a longer road? Author Dennis
Brooke shares his personal journey to publication and what he’s learned
about struggles along the way. ~ Dawn
There’s
Beauty in the Struggle
I have a tale about overnight success in the writing world.
Just two years after completing my manuscript I entered an on-line contest
sponsored by Marcher Lord Press, a leading spec fiction publisher. It was akin
to American Idol on-line and the prize was publication. In each round the
merits of each entry were debated on-line until the audience voted for their
favorites.
In round one we read the premise and synopsis of 36 entries.
Eighteen survived and The Last Apostle was
ranked #1.
In round two the first 500 words of our little darlings was
posted and a spirited discourse ensued. Eight advanced and mine was still
numero uno.
In round three the audience read the first thirty pages. The Last Apostle advanced—again in first
place. And the competitor that I thought was best, even better than mine,
failed to move up. Publication of my baby was imminent!
Voters then read the first sixty pages of each manuscript.
Many openly advocated for my entry. But when the final votes were counted, I
had lost. My story of overnight success was only a story—not a reality.
A modern day philosopher said, “Things aren’t going to go
your way all the time, and we learned that there was beauty in the struggle.” For
five years after that near miss I struggled.
I wrote and rewrote that manuscript. I hired editors,
including Jeff Gerke and Mick Silva, to give me feedback on the manuscript. I
worked with James Rubart on branding and marketing of the manuscript. At times
I participated in critique groups where I learned from the example of others
and received excellent guidance on my own tale.
I also entered contests where I developed a thick skin and
grew to understand that they are highly subjective. In several situations
judges were enthusiastic about my work and remarked that it was sure to be a
finalist. But other judges gave it an effective “meh” and prevented it from
advancing. I picked up some great suggestions, winnowed out some truly terrible
advice, and collected two “Semi-Finalist” awards.
After meetings with many agents, editors, and countless
rejections, prayer, persistence, and patience finally won out. I received an
offer from a reputable small press that I had met at the American Christian
Fiction Writers conference. A counter offer from a Seattle area publisher
offered better distribution and culminated in the release of my book on
February 1.
Frankly, I’m glad that I didn’t win that contest on New
Year’s Eve of 2009. The book is so much better because of what I’ve learned
about the craft. At times it seemed there was no beauty in the struggle but the
results prove that there was.
By the way, that modern day philosopher is Tyler Lockett, a
Seahawks player and fellow brother in Christ. His team went from a 2-4 start to
reach round two of the playoffs.
My advice: Accept the struggle and enjoy the beauty that
results.
What if John, the last living apostle of Jesus Christ, was still alive and well… and living in Seattle?
In A.D.
100, John is restored to the body of his youth and sent on a mission with a
warning: to never reveal his true identity. He winds up on a small Greek isle
where he faces an attempted assassination, a run-in with the Roman authorities,
and develops a relationship with the daughter of the village leader.
Fast-forward
to modern day Seattle, where John leads a foundation dedicated to bringing
clean water to third world nations. A new television series brings attention to
ancient legends about the true fate of John the apostle and threatens to reveal
the truth of his identity. John struggles to keep his secret as he grows close
to Nicole, a young woman he recruits to lead his organization.
For two
thousand years, John has wandered the earth while hiding his true identity. But
now, both friends and foes are on the verge of discovering who he truly is―an
event that will trigger the end times.
Dennis Brooke is
a former US Air Force Officer who counts standing on the Berlin Wall in its
last days as one of the highlights of his life. His work and travel have taken
him to locales all over the world including Sydney, Sao Paulo, and Strasbourg.
He is the former president of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and
has been published in over two dozen international and local publications. In
April, he and his wife, Laurie, are setting off on a five-year adventure to live in different
locations around the world.
You can learn more and connect with Dennis at the following:
THE location for inside info on the
book and contests.
Twitter: @dennisbrooke
