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Year of Change. . .Shooting for the Moon!

Over the past six months my writing career has gone from zero to 90! It's been so much fun getting to know all my fantastic readers. As a matter of fact the cards below are from my readers! I couldn't believe how many Starbucks gift cards, ornaments, or even just a simple note that I got. It's me who should be showering them with gifts!!
(so authors Melissa Bourban and Jane Porter's are on top...they still read my books!)
I spent most of the holiday writing away on my cozy mystery, Strung Out To Die. It's been so much fun actually writing that many words, digging deep into the character and NOT just skimming the top.
As a self-published author, you have the ability to write until you think you are finished. Sometimes that means that you aren't fleshing out those characters, or even that scene.
I continued to write and write, making the decision that I had a career path. I want more readers, more author friends, and more of the crazy business. Writing is in my blood!!
And I love a good fleshed out story. I admit that as I wrote the first two of my Grandberry Falls novels, I didn't flesh out the characters as well as I could have, even though they are really great stories. And sitting down to finish Strung Out To Die really had me thinking about what I really wanted in my career. I've always said that I WANT IT ALL! Movie, TV show, radio interview, book tours, self publishing, etc....Shoot me, I dream big!
Anyways, my Divorced Divas really do deserve to get the chance they deserve. Be completely fleshed out, learn to love them, make a great series, and get it to the masses.
What does this mean exactly?
I'm seeking that ever loving agent. . .yet again. What does THIS mean??? For those of you who truly know me, you know I don't stop until I get what I want. And this has always been my goal. For those of you who will never seek an agent again, that's great and your career is your career. For those of you that are readers, you don't care as long as my book gets in your hands. And no matter what Strung Out To Die will get to your hands by a publisher (either me or a company).
So I dipped my toe into the pool sending out a few of those queries over the holiday, mind you the book wasn't even finished, and a few things happened. Five full manuscript requests, one three book deal proposal, and an indie site asking me to enter an indie contest for non-published manuscripts (it's totally on the up and up!).
That to me gave me the push that I needed to realize that I really hadn't fulfilled my dream.
What does this mean to my indie career? NOTHING! The best thing about being self-published is that you can do it no matter what! And I still have the Olivia Davis Mystery series, anthologies, short stories, along with my next book that will go with Carpe Bead 'em, that will be self-published this year.
Does this effect my grogs? Nope! As for The WoMen's Literary Cafe, that is about promotion and marketing. Every single author no matter what publication journey they are on has to do that! The Naked Hero is a grog for readers! I will be connecting with all readers again and my blog here is about anything we want it to be about.
So. . .I'm going to shoot for the moon this year! And I'll let you know all about it here! Even the failures:))

18 comments:

  1. Sounds like a plan!!

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  2. Congrats on all your success. Sounds like 2012 is going to be a great year for you!

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  3. I have no doubt you will make it to the moon and back again. Heck, why stop there? Knowing you, you'll chart a course to Jupiter! haha

    No matter what you decide to do, I have no doubts as to your success. BTW, LOVE this blog!!!!

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  4. Surely those great sales numbers on the books you already have out will increase the interest those agents will have for signing youl

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  5. I fully believe you can do anything you set your mind to! Crossing fingers on the agent request!

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  6. good for you Tonya. You're a good writer. Having the best of both worlds is good.

    Keep us posted!

    Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

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  7. I'm with you on this, Tonya! I hope you sign up with an agent. I believe you will. You've gone this far and there is no direction to go but up. I came close to signing with an agent with both my books and I hope to try again this time. Good luck and keep us posted!

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  8. Thanks, PJ! Always love seeing you here!

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  9. Hi, Sharon! I really would like to see this year be the year that my ultimate dream does come true. I'm definitely shooting for that moon. Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  10. Hi, Renee! Congrats on your new release, Fall Of Rain. I'm very excited to read it. I appreciate your sweet words. I definitely want to make my dreams come true this year.

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  11. Hi, Jeff! Yes, last year when I began my journey into self publishing, I did have that in mind. I hope that all my work thus far will help me out some.

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  12. Thanks for coming over, Heather! I'm so excited to see your new series, It Takes a Witch go on Barnes and Nobles mass market mystery bestseller list and the Bookscan mass market mystery bestseller list as well!! MAJOR CONGRATS !!!
    I'm keeping those fingers crossed to xxxx!!

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  13. Thank you for the nice words, Sia. I do believe that authors can have the best of both worlds. I'm going to prove it;)

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  14. Thank you so much, Geraldine! I'm excited to see your novel, Love Letters, on the big screen! How exciting! After the agent. . .it's to the movies for me too!! Shooting for the moon!!

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  15. Tonya,
    I'm behind you all the way! Finding the 'right' agent representation has been a roller coaster ride for me. But now that I've found the right fit, it's made ALL the difference. You will find the perfect advocate for your stories, just keep shooting for the moon. =D

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  16. What an exciting year ahead for you, Tonya! Being self-published does not have to mean giving up on the traditional route... lots of authors are doing both now. Yay for you and the big things ahead!

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  17. Thank you for stopping by, Lorie!! I really want to do it all. And I'm planning on it! Thanks for your support:)

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  18. Hi, Talli. Absolutely! I believe we can do it all. Make money the self published route, and see my dream of a book in Target is the other route. . .then a movie!

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