“We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter’s evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true.”
Woodrow Wilson
I feel like I’ve just won the lottery. My Debut novel, Pretty Dark Nothing, is being published by Month 9 Books on April 23, 2013 with a sequel due out April 22, 2014
Am I Really Going to Be a Published Author?
*pinch*
Yes, I really am.
*pinch*
It’s been two weeks since the deal was announced in the trades and I’m still pinching myself. I can’t tell you how surreal and amazing the last few weeks have been. Like the Woodrow Wilson quote, I have nourished and protected this dream, nursed it through bad days and after 26 years of dreaming, it’s finally come true.
The dream sparked to life when I was ten. I was sitting in my 7th Grade English class. Insetad of working on my spelling assignment like I was supposed to, I spent the class writing the first chapter of my first novel. I wanted to be a real writer with a real book on a real book store shelf. I imagined the smell of the freshly printed pages, and what it would feel like to hold my book in my hands. I wanted it. I spent months working and writing in my notepad. No, you can’t read it, I’ve buried the manuscript in the middle of the desert and it’s gaurded by a three headed dingo. Yeah, it was that aweful.
The years flew by. When you’re that young, it’s hard to hold onto a dream, hard not to get distracted. Life got in the way. So did middle school bullies, hormones, boys, and surviving high school. I channelled my angst in poetry and short stories that never saw the light of day. The idea of being a published writer became overshadowed by other goals. But no matter how much I pursued other things, writing never left my soul, it haunted me, tapped me on the shoulder every now and then to remind me that was my gift and I shouldn’t waste it.
At the age of 22, I was working as a receptionist for an IT company, unhappy and lost in my life. A magazine had been left on my desk by my boss on her way into her office. Bored, I started flipping through it. I’ll never forget seeing that ad for The Institute of Children’s Literature. It spoke to me. It dared me to take a chance. I tore out the page and decided it was time to get serious. It was the first step to get myself back on the write path, of really learning the craft, learning discipline, connecting with other writers, and developing confidence so that I could achieve the goal I had set when I was a child.
That was 14 years ago. In that time I’ve written picture books, short stories, poetry, and magazine articles. Some came close to publication, but ultimately, none found a home. Seven years ago, I had an idea for a YA paranormal novel. Writing a full length novel scared the crap out of me. I had never ventured to write anything that long before, but they story, the characters nagged at me, urged me to write. Something clicked. I knew I had finally found my voice. The words poured from me. Euphoric. I was in love with my characters. I worked hard for two years. I wrote draft after draft, polishing and working it until I thought it shined. Then I crossed my fingers and sent it out into the world. After several rejections, an editor with one of the big six asked for the full. I could hardly contain myself. This was it. It had to be. I waited nine months for a decision only to be dissapointed when they ultimately passed.
I felt discouraged. I wanted to cry and scream in frustration. There had been days when I wanted to give up before, but this rejection hurt more than all the others put together. It took me awhile to pick myself up again. But I had a fire in my belly. I couldn’t let go of my dream. I started several other books, but none of them excited me as much as my first one. My main characters wouldn’t let me go. They nagged me, kept me up at night, told me not to give up on them. They wouldn’t be ingnored. I finally gave up and took another look at the manuscript. It had been three years since I’d read through it. I started reworking it. It had potential, but I knew it could be better. I worked harder, I tore the manuscript apart, I threw half of it out and started fresh. I spent eight months rewriting and reworking the entire manuscript. Time to cross my fingers and send it out again. I expected that rejections would come, just as they had before. And then something amazing happened.
On March 2nd 2012, all the dreaming, the rewrites, the determination paid off. I opened my e-mail to an offer. My YA paranormal, Pretty Dark Nothing, had sold in a two book deal to the amazing Month 9 Books. I couldn’t believe it. I read the e-mail over and over, pinching myself each time. Me? A two book deal? I felt like the luckiest girl on the planet. I thanked the ten year old me for setting that goal 26 years ago. Wow! That’s a long time to carry a dream with you. But I’m here to tell you that it can happen. If you’re willing to work at it, if you’ve got the vision, the passion, the fire in your soul to be a writer, if you can’t imagine doing anything else in the world, your dream will come true. When you least expect it. When you feel like it’s never going to happen, just remember to pick yourself up, get back to your laptop, keep striving for your dream every single day, and don’t let anyone tell you you’ll never get there.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. ~Confucious
It takes work, vision, passion, determination, persistence, and most of all, it takes patients. I look back over the years and think to myself, why now? What’s different about today than the other times I’ve submitted my work? And I can honestly say that the timing of this opportunity is perfect. I wouldn’t have been ready before. I have never felt so in sync. I love my publisher and feel like we are a perfect fit. My editor is amazing and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, I am exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m ready in a way I wouldn’t have been earlier in my life. I’m ready for the work, I’m confident in my craft, I know how and what to sacrifice to feed my passion.
So in the words of Henry David Thoreau – ‘’Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
Write on. Live the dream. Never give up.
Has writing always been your dream? How long have you carried it with you?
Courtney Koschel has been writing since she could hold a crayon. She has worked as a journalist, editor, technical writer, and technical editor. Young adult fiction is near and dear to her heart, which is why she writes YA and all of its glorious sub-genres.
Tonia Marie Houston is a mother, writer, poet, bookworm, and blogger. When sheís not chasing her three spider monkeys, she spends her time revising a young adult novel about life after death and second chances. Though she began to pursue her career later in life, she hopes to inspire and motivate other writers to put their best book forward.
This native Texan now lives with her Scottish hubby in North Ayrshire, Scotland, where she wanders the moors in search of William Wallace. She has been a guest blogger on Writer Unboxed and is currently working on the sequel to her YA supernatural novel, Touched by Darkness.
Jamie Raintree writes what she likes to call everyday fairytale love stories, featuring the little moments in life that are truly magical. She lives in Arizona with her husband and daughter and is currently editing her second novel.
Jani Grey is a South African ambivert, writer, reader, optimist, and bacon enthusiast. When her boss isnít looking she writes, revises, or edits YA Urban Fantasies in between work. Sheís sneaky like that. Sheís a NaNoWriMo addict and is currently working on two NaNo novels.
Rebecca Fields is a modern gypsy, roaming from place to place in search of ñ well, sheíll let you know when she finds it. Writing has become a way for her to share her adventures, both real and imagined. Along with her on her journey are her son and an assortment of rescued animals.
Ladonna
March 21, 2012 at 10:51 am
Great post. And thanks.
Heather Reid
March 21, 2012 at 11:27 am
Thanks, Ladonna
Vaughn Roycroft
March 21, 2012 at 11:18 am
You are an inspiration, Heather. I know what it’s like to have your head telling you to move on, but your heart telling you otherwise–to have characters that continue to speak to you at night. I think we started this last rewrite at about the same time. Can’t tell you enough how happy I am for you, and how proud I am of you for sticking to your guns. Thanks for showing the way!
Heather Reid
March 21, 2012 at 11:30 am
Vaughn, you are my rewrite buddy!
thank you for all your support. Without friends like you, I wouldn’t have made it through the bad days. I’m glad you didn’t let your passion go and you didn’t give up on the stories and characters you love. I can’t wait to see your books published. I know it will happen for you and I’ll be the first in line to buy it. Well, seceond after Mo. 
We’re all cheering you on!
bwtaylor75
March 21, 2012 at 11:58 am
I normally don’t read YA, but I will buy your books. It’s true that the journey is just as important as the destination. All of the mistakes and second guesses have led you to where you stand now, precisely where you were meant to be. A published writer. You’ve made it this far, and now the real work begins! Yay for hard work! Whatever I can do to help, let me know. Even though we don’t really know each other, you helped me with a query letter when you didn’t have to. I don’t forget things like that. I truly believe that good things happen to good people. You are good people Heather.
Just think now you can blog about what happens after you get signed, and everything leading up to the release of your first book.
So stop pinching yourself, you’ll get bruises. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heather Reid
March 21, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Brian, thank you so much for the support and encouragement. It means a lot go me.
You’re good people too!
I know we don’t really know each other that well, but that’s what hugs and chocolate is all about, building community and supporting one another. I’m so glad you found us and that we get the chance to know you better too. And don’t think I haven’t visited your blog. I’m a huge Dean Koontz fan and it’s nice to meet another horror writer. I appriciate that you’ll make an exception to read my YA. I tend to write dark and creepy so you might even like it.
I’ll stop pinching myself now.
Courtney Koschel
March 21, 2012 at 1:05 pm
I seriously teared up. No lie. I’m so happy for you. You deserve to live your dream. I remember getting my BA in journalism, and my professor said, “Be prepared to take a paper lunch with you every day.” I still did it. I had a job lined up for me in New Orleans with a reputable newspaper. I was slated to go in December of 2005, well, I think we all know what happened in August of 2005. Hurricane Katrina. I had to find another job and fell back on my minor, which was in biology. I still did technical writing and editing, but my passion was in something more creative. I started writing novel length fiction and having looked back. I, too, had that fire in my belly and kept going. I’m so happy that I’ve kept pursuing my dream. My dream is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, and we have many more years together.
You are such a sweetheart. Your passion and drive show in your writing. Your book is going to look so sexy hanging out on the bookshelf
Heather Reid
March 21, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Happy 20th Birthday to your dream! You will have a lifetime together. *great big virtual hugs and chocolate* Courtney, what can I say? You, my amazing friend, feirce and fabulous editor, writing BFF have the fire in your belly and it shows.
Thank you for sharing your journey. It’s amazing what life throws at us. It must have been heartbreaking not being able to go to New Orleans as planned. We both know that timing plays such a big part in life. Sometimes the roads we thought were meant to go down get blocked, but a detour can take us places we never would have seen before. And the destination ends up being better than we ever thought imaginable.
My book will save a spot for your book on the shelves. They can look sexy together!
Tonia Marie Houston
March 21, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Girl, you just made me cry.
Vaughn says it best. You are an inspiration and I am proud to know you.
Thank you for sharing your story in such depth. I look forward to more.
And again, cheers for reaching your stars.
Heather Reid
March 21, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Tonia, my soul sista, you’ve made me cry now too. I love you guys so much! I’m so blessed to have you in my life and to be able to share our passions together. You’re so talented. I think you underestimate yourself. I can’t wait for the day when all of the hugs and chocolate gang have books on the shelves. You’re awesome!
Lisa M. Basso
March 21, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Huge congrats, Heather! That was a beautiful post. Hard work and persistence really are key. I cannot wait to read Pretty Dark Nothing. Welcome to the Month 9 Book family. I couldn’t be happier for you. And I’m so with you the still pinching yourself thing. It’s surreal.
*throws buckets of virtual confetti*
Heather Reid
March 21, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Lisa!! I’m so glad to call you pub-sister.
Yay! It IS surreal. I can’t wait to read A Shimmer of Angels. I hear your cover will be revealed soon. Squee!!! 
Looking forward to seeing it.
Dorothy Dreyer (@DorothyDreyer)
March 21, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Yaaayy! So happy to have you as my pub-sister. Squeeee!!!
Heather Reid
March 23, 2012 at 9:44 am
Me too!!! Can’t wait to read My Sister’s Reaper. You, Me and Lisa- the Month 9 Books Three Musketeers. One for all and all for one.
Jamie Raintree
March 22, 2012 at 2:18 am
This is such a great story! Thank you for sharing it. I’m looking forward to my signed copy!
Heather Reid
March 23, 2012 at 9:45 am
Thanks, Jamie. Signed copies for everyone!
Nina Badzin
March 22, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Congratulations! Exciting news and very inspiring for the rest of us.
Heather Reid
March 23, 2012 at 9:46 am
Hi Nina. Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting. It means a lot! I’m glad I could inspire. It’s a tough business out there, we need all the support from one another that we can get.
Celia
March 22, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Well done, Heather! This has been my inspiration for the day (or year) to keep going
Sometimes it is just so hard, but stories like these make me get up again.
Heather Reid
March 23, 2012 at 9:48 am
Celia, it IS hard! Don’t ever give up. It’s so easy to throw in the towel and give up on your passion. Your hard work and determination will pay off one day. Keep writing.
Thanks for being part of the hugs and chocolate community.
Rebecca
March 23, 2012 at 7:32 am
Congratulations!!!!
Heather Reid
March 23, 2012 at 9:49 am
Thanks Rebecca. I can’t wait for the day when all the hugs and chocolate gang join me as published authors. It’s just a matter of time!