Movie fans will recognize the above as a quote from “Galaxy Quest.” I like to think of it as a writer’s credo.
In an industry filled with crushing competition, it’s a difficult road to publication. Publishing is going through a tumultuous period. The advent of epublishing has turned everything upside down. Houses are closing, staff is being cut and authors are suddenly without a place to publish their works.
A tough time, eh? Might as well give up and forget ever getting your story to a reader, right?
Not so fast.
I’ve always been a big believer of talent winning out. Send your manuscript out and someone will recognize a good story and the skill it took you to write it. I’ve seen it over and over. Talented writers who submit and submit and gnash their teeth and cry with each rejection letter and want to give up. But they don’t. They keep sending out query letters, keep writing, and never give up. And talent wins out. They get published.
My debut novel, “What Do You Say to a Naked Elf?” was published over five years ago. Its sequel didn’t sell. The next book didn’t either. I took a page out of “Galaxy Quest” and didn’t give up, didn’t surrender.
You know what? Perseverance pays off. “Tall, Dark and Slayer” will be released by Champagne Books in January, 2012.
Read an excerpt here.
And never give up. Your turn is next.
Hello Mrs. Sterling. My mother called me a little over a week ago and said to me “I have a book I just KNOW you’re gonna love! I’m reading it right now and when I’m finished you should take it.” (To know my Mother, is to know you will NEVER get a book from her to read that she hasn’t already read herself. Even if she buys it specifically FOR you as a gift, she will carefully, not to wrinkle pages or disturb the books binding, read it before handing it over to whom ever she bought it for, lol.) I asked her “What book is that?” She said “What Do You Say to a naked Elf?.” I had to laugh at the title, but said “Ooookay, Mom. Let me know and when you’re finished, I’ll get it from you.” The following weekend while visiting my mother she gave me the book. I’m just over half way through the novel now, and I have to say that I love what I’ve read so much that I had to “Google” you this morning to see if I could find anything else written by you. I was saddened to see that this was your debut novel and that the next 2 did not sell. *sigh* … I was SO hoping for more of Charlie & Jane and the kingdom of Lowth!
…. I see that you have another book being released in January of next year, “Tall, Dark and Slayer”. I clicked on the “read and excerpt here” link, but it said the page could not be found. 
… I so look forward to the new books release and will definitely be keeping an eye out for it! Thank you so much, Mrs. Sterling, for the escape that “What Do You Say to a naked Elf?” has given me. I absolutely love it! 