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| Lindsay Harrel |
Fridays
at Seriously Write are devoted to chatting about personal roads taken to
publication and offering encouragement to writers at any point in their own
journeys. Lindsay Harrel shares her
story with us today. ~ Dawn
My Journey to Publication—
and Why Yours Will
Look Nothing Like It
Like many of you, I’ve dreamed of being a published author
ever since I was young. But in high school, I decided that being an author was
too competitive. So I pursued a degree in journalism and become an editor.
Fast forward to 2009—I was working full time and getting my
MA in English. There was only one online course that happened to be available
when I registered, and that was Fiction Writing. I needed an elective, so I
took the course. If ever something was “ordained” and not a coincidence in my
writing journey, I believe it was this moment for me. My love of writing
fiction was reborn during this eight-week course. I started thinking seriously
again about pursing publication.
A month after I graduated, I dove into writing my first
novel. I finished drafting it within four months and boy, did I think it was
good. (All of you can relate, I’m sure!)
When I realized that most certainly was NOT the case, I
settled into learning craft hardcore. I was married and worked full time, but
didn’t have kids yet, so I had the luxury of learning craft and writing during
my lunch breaks and in the evenings and all day on Saturdays. In the course of
my pursuit of publication, I also attended several retreats/conferences (totally
recommend My Book Therapy and American Christian Fiction Writers for this).
After writing my second book, I finaled in a contest and
landed my agent, who asked me to rewrite the book because the premise was
“flawed.” Double groan! But I did it, and I learned a lot in the process.
Then, I wrote another book (One More Song to Sing) and it was contracted and published by a
small press in 2016. While I was thrilled to be published, a part of me was
bummed I wasn’t the “raving success story” I’d always dreamed of being—you
know, one of those rare people who gets a huge multi-book contract out the gate
(a bit unrealistic, right?). But I had a WONDERFUL experience with that book. I
also found that starting with a smaller press for my first book was exactly what
I needed to feel more confident in the whole process. I love how God knows what
we need even when we don’t.
After publishing my first book, it began to look like I
might not ever be able to break into one of the larger publishing houses (I
loved my smaller house experience, but was looking for a house that could help
more with marketing, etc.). I even took a break from writing for several months
and prayed about whether to set aside my writing for a season, since I had a
toddler and was pregnant with my second son. But God had other ideas.
In late 2016, I was offered a two-book contract with
HarperCollins Christian Publishing, my dream publisher, and my second book (The Heart Between Us) just released on
March 13. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a well-known
publisher and to improve my craft with the help of the amazing team of editors
there.
You may be reading this and thinking, “Well, good for her.
But I’ve been writing for x number of years and nothing is happening.” I would
just encourage you to keep going. Keep writing one book. And another. And
another. You learn by doing.
One of my mentors says that if this writing thing doesn’t
change you, then what’s it all for? Your journey WON’T look like mine. We all
have different strengths and weaknesses, different ways that God will choose to
stretch us. Instead of worrying about the destination, let yourself lean into
the journey and be changed by it. Write on, friends. Write on.
Megan
Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in
and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal
played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart
transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s
still working as a library aide in her small Minnesota hometown and living with
her parents, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well
enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome
husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks.
When
her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete
with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between
the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a
friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes
her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey. She’s thrown
for a loop when Crystal offers to join her for reasons of her own, but she
welcomes the company and the opportunity to mend their tenuous relationship.
As
Megan and Crystal check items off the bucket list, Megan fights the fears that
have been instilled in her after a lifetime of illness. She must choose between
safety and adventure and learn to embrace the heart she’s been given so that
she can finally share it with the people she loves most.
Lindsay Harrel
is a lifelong book nerd who lives in Arizona with her young family and two
golden retrievers in serious need of training. She’s held a variety of writing
and editing jobs over the years, and now juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with
writing novels. When she’s not writing or chasing after her children, Lindsay
enjoys making a fool of herself at Zumba, curling up with anything by Jane
Austen, and savoring sour candy one piece at a time. Connect with at the
following places:
Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.lindsayharrel.com/contact/stay-in-touch/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindsayHarrel/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindsayHarrel
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lindsay-Harrel/e/B01LX6E90S/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1517348391&sr=8-1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lindsayharrel/
