You know John Lennon’s line about life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans? Well, Debbi Mack’s life–and her Moments–are living proof. You can read Debbi’s first Made It Moment here and I am so glad to have her back on the blog with the third in her Sam McRae mystery series just out, some stellar climbing of lists under her belt, and even some pretty amazing appearances (one is embedded here as a video). I wish ever greater success for Debbi–and that she keeps taking those other plans and making them turn out even better than the original would have been!

When my first novel IDENTITY CRISIS was published, so many years ago, by a small press that will remain nameless, I was on top of the world. I felt like I’d finally gotten my big break. I knew the road ahead would be a long and hard one, but I was willing to work hard to market and promote my book.

Not long after I signed the contract, I had a stroke. I recovered fully or so it seemed. A few months afterward, I developed a rare movement disorder called dystonia. As a result, my left hand and foot began to clench constantly.

Then, nine months after my novel was published, the press went out of business. All the authors ranted about how unfair that was. Talk to me about unfair, I wanted to tell them.

Years later, I decided to self-publish the out-of-print first novel. After all, what did I have to lose? I had revised the first book to make it a sequel and written the third novel in what I hoped to make a series of Sam McRae mysteries. However, as often happens, things didn’t turn out quite as planned. I revised the third book and made it the sequel.

Then, last year, the most amazing things happened. My once out-of-print novel, IDENTITY CRISIS became a New York Times ebook fiction bestseller. And both novels hit the Amazon Top 100 here in the US. Then they both hit the Amazon UK Top 100. And when my second novel LEAST WANTED hit the Top 10 on Amazon UK, this completely blew me away.

Then I was invited to speak on this panel at a pre-BoucherconSisters in Crime event.

Can you see where I’m heading with this? Life is a journey, comprised of a series of made-it moments.

Now, finally, I’ve reached another milestone. I’ve published RIPTIDE, my third Sam McRae mystery novel. This makes me the author of an actual mystery series, and not just a book and a sequel.

This alone makes me extremely happy. Especially given my condition.

However, I keep looking forward to where life’s journey may take me, because you just never know, do you?

Debbi Mack has published two other novels in the Sam McRae mystery series: the New York Times ebook bestseller Identity Crisis, and the sequel Least Wanted. She’s also published Five Uneasy Pieces, a short story collection that includes her Derringer Award–nominated story “The Right to Remain Silent.” Her short stories have appeared in various anthologies and publications, including Shaken: Stories for Japan, an anthology created to benefit Japanese tsunami relief efforts.

A former attorney, Debbi has also worked as a journalist, reference librarian, and freelance writer/researcher. She’s currently working on a young adult novel, planning Sam’s next adventure, and generally mulling over other projects. You can find her online at her website. She also has five blogs, including My Life on the Midlist, The Book Grrl and Random and Sundry Things. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

This Made It Moment, perhaps the most poetic this forum has seen, proves two things. One, there is some serious talent at the NYWW Perfect Pitch Conference (which is where I met author Bill Meissner) and two, a Moment can be about things that happen long before we have any concept of success. Read on for a Monday morning literary treat.

THE EUCALYPTUS TREE:  SOME THOUGHTS ON ‘MAKING IT’

A finished novel is like a full-grown tree in your back yard.   As readers walk past, they see—and hopefully appreciate—the solid trunk, a kaleidoscope of branches, and the succulent green leaves shimmering in the sunlight and glowing in the moonlight.  But what a casual reader doesn’t see is the complexity of what’s below it, the tangle of roots they never know is there.  Some Australian eucalyptus tree roots reach down 180 feet—almost as far as the height of the tree—and your novel/tree is no different.

So, what are those roots beneath a finished novel?  What are those extensions down there in the darkness that curl around rocks, anchoring the tree as they search for water and nutrients?

They’re the experiences—positive, negative or both—that informed or led to the writing of the book.  There’s so much back there:  It’s your childhood; it’s running down hillsides toward trains and spilling strawberry Kool Aid on the sidewalk.  It’s the time you first swam in a deep, glacial lake and felt the fear of sinking into the azure water below.

It’s the sound of crickets at night as you lay in a field, watching the streaks of northern lights and the slow whirl of the stars.  It’s the dust devil rising from the school yard that you ran toward as a kindergartener, blinking, arms wide.  It’s the panic when your father—teaching you to drive—put you behind the steering wheel of an old stick-shift Plymouth in a parking lot and simply said, “Drive.”   It’s the first touch of your future wife’s hand, her eyes meeting yours and doing a dance.  It’s your tangle of dreams when you sleep.  It’s a total eclipse of the sun; it’s a full moon rising and catching in the dark net of the sky.  It’s the last sad breath of a parent, the first cry of a child as he or she is born.  It’s a song, and the silence after that song.

It’s the very first word on the tip of your tongue when you’re a baby.  It’s writing [complete with corny dinosaur and evil wizard illustrations] a  six-page adventure story on your father’s work stationery when you were ten.  It’s sitting in a closed room and spontaneously scribbling your first poem in high school, though you weren’t even sure what it meant.  It’s discovering, by chance, THE CENTAUR by John Updike as a teenager and being mystified by it, and wondering, for the first time, if you, too, could some day be a novelist.  It’s your first attempt at a short story when you were nineteen—a story that was only one and a half pages long, because you couldn’t think of anything else to write.  It’s the shaky first paragraph of your first published short story, your first chapter of a would-be novel.  It’s the last, twenty-first draft of your last chapter of that novel.  It’s staring at a blank page.  It’s crows, flying across that page before you begin to write.  It’s all this, and more.

What I’m trying to explain is that any moment of ‘making it,’—that  exhilarating, celebratory dash across the finish line with your arms in the air—has so much that came before it, so many informing back-story moments that you can’t chronicle all of them.  They’re hidden from the reader; they’re the hundreds of unseen pages beneath each printed page.

Once you’ve finished writing the book, you can sit back and feel the accomplishment.  It’s like admiring the huge, intricate tree close to your house, the slant of morning sun skimming off its leaves.  But you can’t gaze at it without acknowledging the roots below the surface, because—as you know so well—they’re equally extensive.  And equally important.

Bill Meissner’s first novel, SPIRITS IN THE GRASS, about a small town ballplayer who finds the remains of an ancient Native American burial ground on a baseball field, was published in 2008 by the University of Notre Dame Press and won the 2008 Midwest Book Award. The book was released as an ebook in Feburary, 2012 by the UND Press.

Meissner’s two books of short stories are THE ROAD TO COSMOS, [University of Notre Dame Press, 2006] and HITTING INTO THE WIND [Random House/SMU Press]. He has published four books of poems: AMERICAN COMPASS, [U. of Notre Dame Press], LEARNING TO BREATHE UNDERWATER and THE SLEEPWALKER’S SON [both from Ohio U. Press], and TWIN SONS OF DIFFERENT MIRRORS [Milkweed Editions].

He is director of creative writing at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

P.L. Blair’s Moment touches on a theme around here–that of there being no one Made It Moment in a writer’s career, but a secession of them, or many moments that build. A related topic is how we writers keep raising the bar. It’s enough to get an agent…then an offer…then a book published…then a bestseller…then 10 of them. Or, it’s enough to complete a novel…then revise it…publish it…sell 1000 copies. Or 10,000. Today’s author reminds us to celebrate everything even as we never let go of the dream. Keep writing, keep dreaming–that may be the best Moment of all.

My “made it moment” has come not as a single point in time but … many.

The day my friend (who’d been reading my first book (Shadow Path) chapter by chapter as I wrote it) said she wanted to launch a publishing company – and would like to publish Shadow Path as her first book. That was a dream come true.

First book signings … first book reviews …

Attending science fiction/fantasy conventions as a guest panelist. People actually wanting to hear what I have to say about writing books! But more than that, having people come up to me and say, “I’ve read your book, and I like it!” People asking, “When is the next one coming out?”

Suddenly I’m not “just” a published author. I’m a published author with fans!

Most recently … Shadow Path winning a Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers Choice Award. Third place in PRG’s Young Adult category! What a feeling of ecstasy!

I’m still learning so much about this process of writing and publishing – of being published – and I still wonder every day if I’m doing it right. These are validations. These are the signposts that tell me Yes! I can actually do this!

My publisher recently received Amazon’s Kindle sales figures for November: 215 copies of Shadow Path sold in that month! Another “made it” moment for me.

Some days, I still wonder … Where is all of this going? Will my books earn enough, eventually, to repay my publisher for her faith in me? Can I succeed as an author?

But … I can’t not write! It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m on this course for better or worse, treasuring all these wonderful, positive moments.

And still keeping my fingers crossed …

P.L. Blair is a native of Tyler, Texas, holds degrees in journalism, and has more than 30 years’ experience as a newspaper reporter. Author of (to date) four fantasy/detective novels (her Portals series), she currently divides her year between Sheridan, Wyo., and Rockport, Texas, where she has family. She is companion to two basset hounds, a long-haired dachshund and a cat – all rescues. She writes a regular column and is a book reviewer for myshelf.com.

Pamela DuMond shared her Made It Moment here last year and today she is back to update us on how her writing life and dreams have evolved since. Pam’s debut novel CUPCAKES, LIES, & DEAD GUYS was an e book hit and so Pam is situated to reflect on both the benefits and shortfalls of digital publishing. Read on for Pam’s unique take, and celebrate the e release of her brand new CUPCAKES novella!

Publishing: A Foot in Two Worlds – A Dream in All
The publishing world’s changing every day.

Traditional publishers, known as the Big 6, are now in 2012 thought by many (not all) to be the Big 7. This is because Amazon is pushing (also termed, ‘stepping-on-many-toes,’) in their quest to join this private club.

In 2010, “Indie Publishers,” was the term used to designate small presses.

In 2010,“Self-Published,” referred to those brave souls/individuals who chose to forge ahead and publish on their own. Two years previously, this action was frowned upon by well — almost everyone.

Times Change…. CUT TO –

2011 and 2012.

“Indie Publishers,” is now the preferred terminology previously used for “Self-Publishers.”

Formerly termed, “Indie Publishers,” are now called, “Small Presses.”

Many writers that used to call “Traditional Publishers,” now term them, “Legacy Publishers.” (FYI: Many traditionally published writers and their publishers do not like or condone this term.)

It’s a little confusing, yes?

Am I out of my flippin’ mind for wanting a foot in ALL these worlds?

Overview:

I finished my first novel – Cupcakes, Lies, and Dead Guys in 2008. Approximately forty agents rejected my ms. In 2009 I signed with a junior agent at a major agency. Color me happy!

In 2009-2010 my agent shopped my novel to approximately forty editors at traditional publishing houses where it was again, rejected. After nine months, the super-fine agency fired my agent, fired me and I was agent-orphaned. (This sucked.)

One Foot: Small Presses

Lucky for me, a writer friend/acquaintance picked up the ball and ran with it. She asked Ken Lewis at Krill Press if he’d read my book. He loved it, said yes, and we had a deal. Yay! Cupcakes, Lies, and Dead Guys was published in late 2010. To date it has sold nearly 8500 copies. These aren’t Amanda Hocking figures, but considering most self-pubbed and small press books sell between 100 to 1000 copies, it’s a decent number and I’m proud of it.

I also marketed the heck out of this book on a dime. (Different blogpost.)

In 2010, not knowing what would happen with Cupcakes novel, I wrote a novel in a completely different genre. It’s a YA time travel historical romantic thriller called The Messenger’s Handbook.

Second Foot: Traditional Publishers – I’m still dreaming.

I’ve been shopping The Messenger’s Handbook to agents and publishers (small, big, and micro) for a while. Again, for the most part I’m hitting closed doors, closed minds, and hearing a cacophony of, “Nos.”

One micro press loves it and offered to publish it. But also encouraged me to continue shopping it to bigger presses with better distribution. Several well-connected small presses requested the full ms. A few said no, and I’ve yet to hear back from others.

Some agents are perusing my ms’s fulls and partials. Just today I got yet another agent rejection.

Thanks to Jenny Milchman’s encouragement, I entered The Messenger’s Handbook in the ABNA competition where, thanks to writers who helped me hone the pitch, it made it to the second round.

Foot Number Three: Self-Publishing

In summer of 2011, readers started asking about the next Cupcakes book. Oopsies! I was working on two sequels but knew neither would be completed before the end of 2011.

I decided to set these aside and instead wrote a Cupcakes Novella. I hired my editor. I hired Booknook.com, an e-book conversion company, (which I highly recommend.) And my friend and fab screenwriter, Michael James Canales, created the novella’s cover.

I self-pubbed Cupcakes, Sales, and Cocktails on 12/24/11.  As of 3/6/12, it’s sold over 1600 copies.

I embarked on another adventure by putting the novella up for free on the Kindle DP Select program. Exciting- yes. Scary – yes. Necessary – yes. I did two give-away days in early February. 18, 200 copies were dl. In the “Free” Kindle store, the novella hit #8 in overall sales, #1 in Humor, #1 in Mystery, and #1 in Female Sleuths. Exciting! I did another giveaway on March 1^st.  And only gave away 262 books. Go figure.

Back to the Second Foot: Traditional Publishers

And I’m back to my dream. In today’s market, with all the craziness –  how long does one wait for the agents and traditional publishers and even small presses to respond?

Unlike Jenny Milchman who persevered for eleven years, (major congrats on Jenny’s tenacity and her book deals,) remember, I don’t currently have an agent. Which means I cannot shop my YA to traditional publishing houses.

I have harbored the dream of breaking into traditional publishing for years. I want a savvy agent. I want to work with an incredible editor at a well-connected house. I want to walk into a bookstore and see my books. I want to attend signings. (My own as well as other authors.)

I’d love a foot in all worlds. But when is it time to face the reality? Call it a day? Move on? What would you do? What do you think? What is your story?

Pamela DuMond was born and raised in the Midwest. She moved to Los Angeles for love. When that tanked, she stayed for the beautiful weather. While Cupcakes, Lies, and Dead Guys is her debut novel, she contributed essays on intuition to Soul Moments: Marvelous Stories of Synchronicity – Meaningful Coincidences from a Seemingly Random World, edited by Phil Cousineau. She’s also edited more than her share of self-help books.

Pamela discovered and pitched Erin Brockovich’s life story to a production company. Erin Brockovich the movie was nominated for four Academy Awards. Julia Roberts won her Best Actress Oscar for portraying Erin.

With Joe Wilson, Pamela co-created Celebrity Jar of Air, the internationally acclaimed comedic jar that may or may not have contained air molecules breathed by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Pamela is an author, writer, chiropractor and cranio-sacral therapist. She loves reading, writing, the beach, yoga, movies, animals and her family. She lives in Venice Beach, California with her furballs. She’s currently writing the second book in the Annie Graceland series, as well as a YA para-normal romance. She lives for a good giggle.

If you’re a writer, I dare you to read Anita Page’s Moment and not want to do the exact thing she describes in her last line. Oh, Anita, you said it better than I have–I’m hoping for that very thing as I near the climax of my latest novel. And if you’re a reader, I dare you not to be intrigued by Anita’s description of murder in the mountains. This debut just landed on my Wish List. Read on to see what happens when The email finally arrives!

I’m always inspired by other writers’ made it moments. Thank you, Jenny, for the chance to tell my story.

First, the moment. In October 2010, I was visiting family in Southern California before heading to San Francisco for Bouchercon. One morning I stopped at the motel business center to check e-mail. I was on one computer, my husband on the other.  I’d submitted my novel, Damned If You Don’t, to Lisa Smith at L&L Dreamspell a couple of months earlier. When I saw Lisa’s name in the inbox, I told myself it was going to be another rejection—magical thinking that’s supposed to ward off disappointment, but never does. I read Lisa’s email twice, just to make sure I’d gotten it right. Henry James said the most beautiful words in the English language are “summer afternoon.” I propose this instead: “We would like to offer you a contract.” Cool woman that I am, I casually said to my husband, “Why don’t you take a look at this?”

Some background: I began writing short stories in college, and over the years had a few published. They were what you’d call literary, but only if your standards were fairly low. I worked at journalism for a while, my first stint for a small monthly paper in New York. After we moved to the Catskills, I did freelance feature writing for a regional newspaper—tremendous fun, but not much money. I began teaching, which I loved, and stopped writing except very occasionally.

In 2005, I retired with no intention of writing again. I began anyway thanks to the encouragement of a wonderful writers’ group. This time around I concentrated on crime fiction, and had some short stories published in ezines and anthologies. I also began work on a full- length mystery set in the Catskills, where many of my stories take place. We’d moved from the area some years before, but the mountains called to me when it came to writing about murder. I started Damned If You Don’t while trying unsuccessfully to find an agent for the earlier manuscript. It was the kind of first attempt in which the characters spend pages searching for the plot, and I eventually gave it a decent burial.

I took DIYD through six or seven rewrites over a two-year period, and then began pitching and submitting to agents. None of them felt passionate enough, as the saying goes, to offer representation. I then sent the manuscript to L&L Dreamspell. They’d published Murder New York Style, an anthology that included one of my stories, and I hoped that connection would get the manuscript read. And that takes us to the motel business center and Lisa Smith’s lovely letter.

That was most definitely a made it moment, but in an odd way I felt it really belonged to my characters. Hannah Fox, Jack Grundy, the intrepid Women of Action—people who’d been living in my head for years—would move out into the world. That realization was the great thrill of the morning for me. The work, after all, goes on—a pleasure, and also a struggle. I’m sure this will always be true, though I admit to a fantasy that someday I’ll sit down and write the seventh draft first.

Anita Page’s short stories have appeared in journals, ezines, and anthologies, including Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices and the MWA anthology, The Prosecution Rests. She received a Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society in 2010 for “‘Twas the Night,” which appeared in The Gift of Murder.

Damned If You Don’t, her first novel, is set in the Catskill Mountains. It features Hannah Fox, a community activist raised in the sixties on picket lines and peace marches, who can’t turn her back when a friend’s land is threatened by an eminent domain scam that ends in murder.

Anita and her husband live in a bucolic corner of New York’s mid-Hudson Valley, where she writes, thinks about writing, and reads other people’s writing. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

Damned If You Don’t is available in paperback and as an e-Book from Amazon. The paperback is available at Barnes and Noble.

Read more at www.womenofmystery.net and www.anitapagewriter.blogspot.com.

This, one of the shortest Made It Moments ever featured, delivers such a poignant punch at the end that I urged author J.H. Bogran not to add a single word when he sent it to me for looking over. Read on and I think you’ll agree that every word is deliberately placed and utterly needed. J.H.’s short story is available for the first time on March 1st and I am thrilled to be celebrating its release with him–and of course, all of you.

Back in 2007, Letra Negra Editores released my first novel in Spanish titled Heredero del Mal—Heir of Evil—. Excited with the prospect of being a “published author,” I organized a book launch party by calling in a few favors, prodding a few sponsors, getting a little wine, crackers and other assorted hors d’oeuvre. The place was not a bookstore, but a cultural center that hosts book launches, painting expositions. It even has a fully-equipped auditorium for plays and concerts. Another advantage of working with them was the extra media exposure. They got me interviews in the country’s two major newspapers and some short TV appearances.

I know what you’re thinking: where’s your made-it-moment?

Well, the moment I can pinpoint as the one happened during the book launch.

It was near the end, after I had ridiculed myself trying to put up a front of calmness when reading in front of the audience. I was sitting at a desk and there was a line—a short one, but a line nonetheless—of people waiting to get their books signed.

I agree that by itself, that was great, but the really special moment was when my 8 year old boy stood right next to me. He looked at the line, then back at me. The corners of his lips turned up as his eyes opened wide. “I’m the son of somebody famous,” he said.

Forge