I have learned so much on my journey to self-publish my series of Billy Love novels. It has been a rewarding adventure. But along the way I have discovered that I can not rely solely on myself to bring books to fruition.
You can scrutinize a manuscript endlessly for grammatical and spelling errors and still fail in that endeavor. I feel extremely lucky to have discovered my editor Terrie Scott. She has been my confidant, my cheerleader, my stalwart and my advocate. I can not say enough good things about her.
Terrie wears multiple hats and I am grateful for her insights. Not only does she scrutinize my manuscripts for technicalities, but she also serves as my developmental editor whereby she determines whether my stories and characters are plausible and consistent throughout a novel. Her feedback is priceless and her support keeps me engaged and fulfilled in my writing endeavors.
In her words, “you have enough stories to keep writing through the 9/11/2001 era.”
I set out to write one book and now I have completed the Billy Love trilogy and am contemplating another series. This never would have happened without an editor, and not any old editor, but my editor Terrie.
The second person who has been an essential part of my books is Pam Walker Barton. She is a brilliant cover artist who simply makes the reader want to pick up the book and read it without ever waiting to discover the synopsis. Her black and gold covers with the art deco edgings are unique and dazzling. She is a design phenomenon.
I have some advice for those of you who want to publish your work. Find people who are supportive, who don’t tear you down, yet are unafraid to reveal to you where you might improve your stories. It can make all the difference between joyful writing and drudgery!
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