In our first BAB blog, last October, I introduced you to one of my publishing clients…78 year-old Donna Bocks. I met Donna at our June 2009 “Birth Your Book” workshop. Donna shared that she had written 6 novels during the past 25 years. I asked her where the novels were. She explained that they were sitting in her basement.
The English professor Donna hired to edit her manuscripts was adamant that unless she received a positive response from a traditional publisher, there were no other “respectable” publication options for her. Donna sent typewritten query letters and received rejection after rejection. Her granddaughter read one of her novels for a class project and loved it. Except for Sadie’s project, the novels remained in the basement, unread.
I challenged Donna to bring her six typewritten manuscripts out of the basement. We spoke on the following Monday, the day she carried each manuscript out of basement into the light of day and into the hands of my expert team.
In October 2010, we celebrated with Donna Bocks the completion of four of her novels at a fantastic launch party with 50 of her friends, family members, and community supporters. In the company of this supportive audience, Donna experienced speaking at her first book event.
Rave reviews led to other speaking engagements and radio interviews. She’s on her way to becoming a regional star! BTW, over 100 of her books were sold at the party! In October of this year two more of Donna’s novels will be launched: Twin Trees and Purple Prairie Schooner.
Donna’s journey expresses our belief that traditional publishing is one option among many to usher your project into the hands of its intended audience. Rejection letters from agents and publishers, lovers and employees, family and friends do not determine the fate of your book project, or your life!
We are the authors of our own books (and lives), and we must actively decide the best route for our projects (and our lives) to travel. We must LOVE our finished projects enough to publish them (sing them…paint them…build them…teach them…cook them…live them…), no matter what!
Inspired by Donna Bocks, what will you bring out the basement today? Tell us your answer here in the comment section or on our “Birth Your Book” Facebook Fan Page!
Patricia Lynn Reilly is the founder of Imagine a Woman International and BAB Publishing Services. In her role as publishing coach, she reminds her clients that they are individualized expressions of creative intelligence, idea-generators fueled by the creative powers of the universe. Supported by the BAB Team, her clients take their tenacious ideas, propelled by their own strong YES, to the publishing finish line! Visit www.birthAbook.com for more inspiration and support to take the next step with your tenacious idea. Visit www.imagineAwoman.com to be inspired to author your own life!
How funny. Very, very ain’t the Universe grand, sort of funny! I just took a break from cleaning the basement, which I am doing while/instead of (??!) trying to decide what to do about a couple of books that are “way past term”, and decided to check the unread emails from the past week…and here this is. I will finish the basement project today, so I can get to needed art materials, but will be mindful to make the books a priority this week, and contact you professionally, if they don’t seem to be making their way into the world at an appropriate pace.
Hi Dawn-Marie. YES, life brings us what we need in the most remarkable ways! YES, keep us in mind. The road from idea to publication can be long and confusing, with resources wasted on irrelevant services and time wasted on unnecessary exercises. We map out the journey for you and provide effective and affordable support along the way. Become a Facebook fan of Birth Your Book! and receive daily inspiration to move your project forward, one word at a time!