How do I sum up 3 traditionally published books including the 3 most transforming years of my life?
I started a new series entitled “What’s it like to be a published author.” You can read Part 1 here.
My first published book, Faithbook of Jesus, was released in 2010 with NavPress. I won the Nancy Bayless Award with the San Diego Christian Writers Guild. Everyone there was so helpful, and I’m so grateful they helped me get my start as writer.
My dream of becoming an author had come true. But before its release, my mental health struggled to the point of needing to go to the emergency room, seek counseling, and get back on medication full time.
I wrote my 105,000 manuscript while working full-time at Outreach Events. I was the Events Specialist for the top nationally known Christian speakers. It was my dream job.
Hightlight: I got Josh McDowell (pictured below) to endorse my book.
Everything I learned during the day, I put into practice at night while working on my own writing & speaking career. I didn’t want to give it up.
But I couldn’t do both.
Working full-time while trying to launch my author career was too much for me, and my health crumbled. It was so humbling to go on disability as a 20-something while trying to figure out how to advocate for myself. I wanted to pursue my dreams, but I was afraid. How would I support myself? When I quit my job in 2009, I had to move back in with my parents (again).
Hightlight: My book sold out its entire print run of 5,000 copies BEFORE its release!!
I had my first book signing at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Carlsbad, California (pictured below). Thanks to Barnes & Noble, my book was picked to be on their Easter tables nationwide (also pictured below). I also had a book release party at North Coast Church with all my family and friends.
Highlight: I was invited to speak to the youth at Bishop T.D. Jake’s Church, Potter’s House, in Dallas, Texas thanks to Tim Ross, their young adult pastor.
Navpress took note of my excellent book sales and flew me out to Colorado Springs to stay in their castle carriage house once again.
We mapped out my second book.
They immediately offered me a second book contract. Unfortunately, the economy collapsed and NavPress canceled my contract months later. I had no idea a publisher could cancel your book contract. It was about that time, that my mentor, Pam Farrel, introduced me to Harvest House Publishers in Eugene, Oregon.
Harvest House flew me out to review two book ideas which became contracts for books two and three (the book NavPress canceled).
In preparation for my dating book I had just pitched to Harvest House, I felt led to make a new list of what I was looking for in a husband. This was in January 2011, the same month I met Marc Fisher.
Marc and I met through North Coast Church in Vista, California. He joined a 20-something growth group I was co-leading with a friend at my parent’s house.
Marc helped me move out of my parent’s house so that I could attend Bethel Seminary in San Diego while writing Not Another Dating Book for Harvest House Publishers to be released in time for Valentine’s Day 2012.
We immediately started dating.
Right before we were engaged, I told Harvest House that I needed to change my name for my book release in 2012. I just knew things were progressing…and fast! I decided not to attend seminary and moved back in with my parents.
Marc immediately proposed, and we planned our wedding for a few months later.
A few months after we were married, Not Another Dating Book was released with my new last name on the cover.
I got to work writing my next book, Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me, immediately.
Highlight: Thanks to Harvest House Publishers, who put me in touch with my hero Neil T. Anderson, I asked him to endorse my book, and he did! They placed his endorsement on the front cover of Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me. A dream come true.
Unfortunately, Not Another Dating Book, sold poorly. This meant that Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me, my third published book, got fewer opportunities.
I poured my heart into this book.
It was my baby.
The book that was canceled which became, Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me, was released in August 2013 to little or no fanfare.
Harvest House Publishers discontinued Not Another Dating Book. I had no idea what it meant or even that a publisher could do this. They stopped printing any new copies. I still didn’t own the rights, the bookstores stopped carrying it, and I never saw another penny (royalties).
Lowlight: Buying the rights back meant I had to purchase EVERY SINGLE COPY remaining in their warehouse.
Since Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me was my baby, I decided to spend thousands of dollars to force Harvest House Publishers to discontinue the book earlier than they would have since it was also not selling well so I could buy the rights back. They shipped all remaining copies to our new apartment in Austin, Texas, where we had just moved from Escondido, California.
Harvest House Publishers decided not to publish any future books. I believed my dreams were dead.
I was devastated.
I felt lost and confused.
Join me for Part 3, coming soon, as I unpack my journey to self-publishing in the final part of what’s it like to be a published author.
Highlight: The NIV Bible for Women, published in 2015, published three of my devotionals.