Publishing Story
Author. Novelist. Published.
These are words that I never in a gazillion years would have imagined associated with me! I remember writing the obligatory research papers, reports, and English compositions in high school and college with great fondness. Always the avid reader, it was fun to try my hand at putting a cohesive bunch of paragraphs together. Still, as a woman focusing on a career in science, I never thought of it further despite the top grades I received.
Skip ahead over twenty years to me taking the leap into web-based fan fiction. Thank God, literally, for the amazing technology that has spawned the vast array of mediums to allow fledgling writers the opportunity to share their work. Most do it for no other purpose than to have a bit of fun and entertain an eclectic group of like-minded fans, and I was no exception. Eventually I created my own website to post the chapters of Two Shall Become One, as I had titled my story. I called my website The Darcy Saga as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the monster epic that showed no signs of diminishing in my brain! I was being humorous, not anticipating that I would truly be writing years later. Now, of course, it IS an epic saga so the title is apropos.
The first time a reader on my Forum said I should get published I smiled indulgently, chuckled a bit, thought it was sweet, and moved on. Heck, the first dozen times anyone said such a thing I reacted that way! I was well past the middle of 2006 and far beyond the short stories I had initially written before I began to seriously consider the notion. I had discovered a passion for not only the Darcys, but for writing and research. The barest glimmer of possibility began to flicker through my heart and mind. Could this be a supplementary career? Could my little hobby become something tangible? Could I perhaps find a way to share this tale of love and hope with a wider audience?
Bit by bit I began to research the whole unknown world of publishing. Books were purchased and read, websites were bookmarked, and articles were perused. One of the first realities was that my humble tale was at that point enough for two full novels! I was quite shocked by that fact. I write in a free-form, organic style and had no concept of how my fifty-some-odd web chapters translated into a standard novel format. The first order of business was to rearrange and edit the beginning chapters into a unified initial installment of the Saga. Two Shall Become One: Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy was the result!
Finally in October I began sending out the first query letters. In retrospect I did not apply myself to the task as adequately as I could have. Partly that was due to ignorance in the system, but also due to various personal troubles that arose. Plus, as the holidays commenced life grew a wee bit crazy! I was even required to take a hiatus from all topics Darcy for a time. It ended up being propitious and refreshing as I was able to reapply myself to the saga with a vigor that extended into my pursuit of publishing.
It was February, now 2007, before I had the time to delve into the process once again. I also explored the option of self-publishing if my endeavors to interest a literary agent failed. The following months were divided between writing new material (a passion I could not ignore), sending letters and manuscripts, preparing and editing my epic-sized saga into three reasonable novels, while attending to real life issues. I was a busy little girl!
By May I was nearly convinced that the traditional publishing route was not in the fates. Therefore, on May 26 I announced that Two Shall Become One: Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy was available at Lulu.com! It was a very exciting day for me. Despite the future developments that arose, I do not regret one minute of the time I spent in preparing my first novel for self-publication. The lessons learned are invaluable, the response was incredible, and the joy of seeing my work in a bound form is indescribable!
Nevertheless, it was assuredly an overwhelming delight to receive the call from Deb Werksman at Sourcebooks! Like thousands or perhaps millions of hopeful authors down through the centuries, I had sent query letters with no choice but to sit back, pray, and wait patiently. The red letter day in my life was June 25, 2007 when Ms. Werksman called a sleepy me - I having worked the entire night before and a mere three hours into my daily slumber – to say she wanted to publish my book! Can you imagine the atmosphere?
Who is Sourcebooks? They are an independent publishing house established by Dominique Raccah and operating since 1987 with a stellar reputation in numerous genres of books offered via their seven imprint divisions. As a company they are one of the fastest rising, privately owned businesses in the US. Over 300 books a year are published, many of which have become New York Times Bestsellers. 
Their romance fiction imprint, Casablanca, of which the Austen novels umbrella under, was established just a few years ago and has over 30 authors already! Among the hundreds of titles published through Sourcebooks are the hugely popular and enormously sold Jane Austen related books by Linda Berdoll, Jane Dawkins, and Amanda Grange. I can now proudly say that I am listed alongside these successful writers of "Pride and Prejudice" fan-fiction and can only pray I am half as fortunate. I am also part of the terrific group of Casablanca authors who have our own entertaining blog at Casablanca Authors. I am incredibly thrilled to be given this opportunity to be a part of such a marvelous vision in publishing.
The past year and a half has brought me many challenges and learning experiences. The world of publishing is vastly different than my comfort-zone in a hospital! I have frequently felt as if I was floundering in a sea that was surely going to drown me, but between the steady support of my family, my incredibly patient editor Deb, and the kindness of my readers, I have survived. Eventually Sourcebooks did fulfill my wish to have the first three novels published as Print-on-Demand versions. By June of 2008 all three books were available for purchase via online retailers like Amazon.com. Simultaneously they proceeded with the lengthy process of editing and designing and marketing for the perfected, conventionally printed version of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One. This stunningly rendered edition, my debut novel, is now available for purchase both online and at bookstores.
As 2008 came to a close, I passed the three year anniversary of when I first walked into that movie theater and fell in love with this story. By the time Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One was launched, it was exactly three years since I wrote “The Wedding Night” on a whim. My, how life can change! The other books in the Saga are coming soon and I, naturally, am still writing! At this point my handsome muse is inspiring me to stay with the Darcys and share their lives with you, my faithful readers. But my future career is in God’s Hands, so I am content to be patient, to trust, and diligently persevere. Amen!
