My First Novel is Being Published!

Hello everyone!  I write today with GREAT news!  I have finally finished writing my very first complete novel, and I have just submitted it for publishing!

The last time I wrote anything about writing I was working on a science fiction novel called, "Dead Gods Weeping".  This is a story I'd been working on for about ten years, and it still stubbornly refused to go where I was leading it, like a big untrained dog. So I locked it in its kennel some time ago, and changed gears.  Last November, I joined a group called "National Novel Writing Month" or "NaNoWriMo" for short, and took up the challenge to write the first draft of a manuscript in 30 days.  I decided to steer clear of science fiction or fantasy, which has given me so many problems, and instead tried my other favorite genre, mystery/suspense.  I thought of a tantalizing story, and dove in.

I successfully completed the book by November 30, 2009, which is the first time I'd ever completed anything I started, as far as writing novels goes.  Since then, I've labored on making the story publishable.  I've gone over every line as carefully as possible, eliminating errors and adding things as they occurred.  It took much longer than I had intended, due to the other things I've had to do, like looking after the kids, cooking and cleaning, attending my other husbandly duties, and spending the necessary amount of time being ill and unable to move (as some of you know, I am disabled, and have problems with episodic paralysis and seizures).

I thought I was done this summer, and sent the book to about fifty different literary agents and publishers.  As expected, they were all rejected, so I took a second, third, and fourth look at my manuscript to find and fix any problems and inconsistencies.  I consumed a dozen books on writing and technique, and even communicated with a few well-known writers through email.

Meanwhile, I decided I didn't want to go through the traditional publishing methods, at least not yet.  Because of my health problems, I am extremely wealth-challenged, and I frankly don't have the resources that others have.  I can barely even afford Internet access as it is.  In any case, I wanted my story to reach as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.  So I began researching other publishing methods.

Most methods of self-publishing are even more expensive than traditional publishing.  Until I found the great folks at CreateSpace!  This self-publishing service has many methods of publishing, and I found one that worked with my practically empty pocket book.  Working with them, my book is being prepared for publishing as we speak, and will soon be available on Amazon.com as well as other online retailers, as well as many major bookstores!

The book I've written is called "Dead Wind Hollow".  Despite its similar title, it's nothing like the failed science fiction story.  In this story, Simon Quinn, a famous and wealthy sculptor, who also happens to be a dwarf standing only 3'6" tall, is living the good life, until everything is turned upside down with the kidnapping of his fiancee, Samantha.  Unable to wait until the police solve the case, Simon begins his own investigation, and in the process uncovers a dark conspiracy unlike anything he'd suspected.

I had a lot of fun writing it, and I learned a lot about things like police procedure, detective work, guns, and pawn shops as I did the research.  I probably still got things wrong, but I tried to make sure everything was as correct as I could make it.

Why is my hero a dwarf?  Well, ever since I was little, I've been fascinated by dwarves and midgets--people that are the same size or smaller than children, but are in fact adults.  Some of my favorite actors are dwarves, such as David Rappaport of Time Bandits fame, and Warwick Davis of Star Wars and Willow.  I delved into the mind of "little people" as best I could.  I knew there would be no way I could completely understand what they go through, since I'm more than six feet tall, but I did my best.  I read books about and by dwarves and others afflicted with similar problems.  I even spent weeks (not all together, mind) walking around my house on my knees, so I could see what the world looked like.  It was a humbling experience.

In the story, I do my best to show that someone with dwarfism can do anything anyone else can.  One of the agents I sent my manuscript to wondered why I didn't have my hero use his size as a major advantage in solving the crimes in the book.  I had thought about that early on, and actually intended on doing that when I began writing.  But as I wrote, I began to feel that it would be more valuable to show my character succeeding despite his problems with his size, rather than in spite of it.  I  think I'm right in this, and I stand by the decision.

Anyway, be looking for "Dead Wind Hollow" to be available for purchase online and at your favorite bookstore.  I'm not sure when the process will be completed, but I'll keep everyone updated!