The Meeting 

Last April I got to sit and talk with literary agent Steve Laube while attending a writer’s conference. For my fifteen-minute appointment, we discussed the book I had just finished. He had some wonderful feedback and ideas to make it even better.

Then, at the end of the conference he shook my hand and said, “Even if the big guys don’t pick this up, I think your book is going to help a lot of people.”

I went home with a list of his suggestions and put them to work in my manuscript. Then, I sent him a proposal for the book.

The Letter 

Now, sending something to Steve Laube is aiming really really high. He is one of, if not the most popular agent for the entire Christian market. I remained hopeful, but in the end, he only has so many slots to fill.  I came away with a letter saying how much merit my book has, but he just couldn’t take it on at this time.

In the literary marketplace, hearing back from an agent who isn’t interested is a gift. Usually you’re told if you don’t hear back by a certain date they’re not interested.

If I hadn’t talked with Steve personally, I would have been undoubtedly discouraged. But I know that this is the way it works in the publishing world. Writer’s talk of lining their walls with rejection letters before a yes actually comes. So, I went to prayer, asking for God’s direction.

Praying About It

I could have sent the book out to more agents in the Christian market, but I feel that that isn’t what I’m supposed to do quite yet. Some of the feedback I’ve received from editors and agents is that I didn’t have a big enough platform, which is Social Media, an email list and blogging, etc.

This area has been a stretch for me, because it’s not in my comfort zone. I like to pray and talk with people, to study the word, and to write. I am, without question, an introvert. Getting in people’s faces and asking them to join my mailing list? That is uncomfortable for me.

The Direction

Right now, I feel led to get out of my comfort zone daily, and work on building a Social Media Platform. But I also feel that I’m not to stop writing completely. My goal for this coming year is to release two, possibly three shorter devotionals via Amazon. What those subjects are about is still under much prayer, yet their purpose is already clear; to share my past in order to help others overcome.

So, this coming year, I would love your prayers, and your honest feedback. Let me know what you like or don’t like about the blogs, the Facebook posts and what goes out on the email list; and if you’d like to see something different. The best ways to contact me are through the contact form on my site or replying to one of the emails I send out. Your Feedback is wanted, and  I will sincerely and prayerfully consider all suggestions.

In His love,

P.S. This next few weeks I will be spending time with family, so I will be sharing some samples from my current book, Lord, I’m Broken for the next few blog posts.