Hi friends! Welcome to all my new blog followers! Like stores sometimes do a soft opening before opening to the public, I did a soft start of my website and blog this summer. You might call this past week my hard opening. It was an exciting step for me as I invited all my Facebook friends to come along for the ride. I had an overwhelming response!  It truly blessed me to see such an outpouring from friends willing to take a moment out of their busy lives to sign up for my blog. And if you’ve been with me since the beginning, welcome back! Thank you all for supporting me as I work toward a dream of being a published author.
I hope you got a chance to look around on the website (robinshelley.com) while you were signing up for the blog. Feel free to check out earlier blog posts you may have missed. You can also peek at the story line of my first book, The Lighthouse Legacy. Hopefully it will get you excited about following my journey to get it published. I’m excited to get it out there for all of you to enjoy!
Although I could go the self-publishing route, I prefer to connect with traditional publishers. That is one long road to walk. Let me give you a glimpse into the world of traditional publishing and my journey ahead.Â
Completing a novel was only the start. I realized that if I wanted people to enjoy it, I had to learn how the publishing industry works. Now I’m putting that knowledge to work.
I am currently focusing on finding a literary agent that is as excited about The Lighthouse Legacy as I am. It takes a lot of research to find the right agents to approach. I email query letters including sample pages and then I wait. Patience and persistence are key. Agents can get hundreds of these emails each week. Therefore, my letter and the story has to catch their attention. It’s about persistence to find that special agent who emotionally connects with the story and sees its potential.Â
Here’s where you come in. If an agent has some interest, he/she will likely look to see if I have a social media presence. Seeing my website, reading the blog and noting the number of followers I have may sway them to invest more time in my book by asking to see the whole manuscript. When an agent asks for the manuscript, it may take weeks or even months for him/her to find the time to read it. If an agent decides to take on my project, then we discuss representation. If we agree that we want to work together, then the agent begins searching for a publisher for the book.Â
When a publisher buys the book, it still goes through more preparation before it’s printed, marketed and distributed, taking another year or two to hit the store shelves. Now when I pick up a book at a store, I appreciate all the time and work it represents by a whole team of people.
So, if you ask me how the book’s going, I’ll probably say, “It’s going.” It just means I’m working through the process, being patient and persistent, and dreaming up ideas for the next book! I’ll let you all know when I have any big news. Meanwhile it helps keep me encouraged knowing you’re all out there cheering me on! Thank you! Don’t forget to comment on posts that interest you. And please – tell your friends. The more, the merrier!