my journey to publication

My writing journey began in September of 1998 after my brother-in-law suffered a tragic and near-deadly motorcycle accident that left him in a coma for eight weeks. At first, I mostly wrote short inspirational pieces and vignettes. Anything and everything about what I was experiencing on a spiritual level, what I was observing on a physical level. I just let the words flow from my heart to my pen (I wasn't using a computer at the time). I really made no attempt at getting my writing published, I just wanted to write and get it down, but in the back of my mind I knew that some day I'd be shooting for publication.

A year later I felt I was ready to start submitting some of my work. I had no idea where to start so I just sent some of my inspirational articles out to magazines and periodicals. Everything got rejected. I had jumped the gun. About that time, I heard a published magazine writer speak and afterward asked him for advice on how I could get published. His advice was invaluable: Start small and build a portfolio. I took his suggestion and started writing for my church newsletter. I also submitted some articles to websites, e-zines, and start-up magazines (no pay of course) and got them accepted. From there I started my own newsletter. It only lasted a year, but it was a great learning experience.

Christmas season, 2002, our local newspaper ran a contest for readers to write in about a Christmas tradition in their family. I entered and got my article published in the paper. I immediately followed that up by contacting the editor about an idea for a patriotic-themed weekly column I had. She loved it and gave me the column. And it actually paid!

In 2003 the Christian Writer's Guild ran a contest for first-time novelists. Now, I had never thought of writing a novel before and never dabbled in fiction, but the contest grabbed my attention, and I had an idea for a book so I decided to give it a whirl. Six months later my novel was complete, and I sent it off to the competition. Needless to say, I did not win, but again, the experience was a time of great learning and birthed in me a love for fiction writing. And all the while I was still writing articles and submitting them to various publications, some getting accepted, some rejected.

Following the CWG contest, I decided to seriously pursue fiction writing and began studying everything I could about the craft, both in books and online. I also began intensely reading authors in the genre (suspense) that I was interested in, not just for pleasure, but to learn the craft of writing. Months after doing all this, I began crafting another novel and called it The Hunted.

The Hunted took me about eight months to complete and edit, just in time for the 2006 Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference. I was among the first to register for the conference, signed up to meet with some notable agents and editors, and turned in my sample chapters and synopsis for two critiques. I was certain I would leave Philly with at least one contract offer. Well, when the smoke had cleared I didn't have any contracts in hand, but I did leave Philly with a promise from best-selling suspense author Kathryn Mackel to help me find an agent. It turned out she really liked what she read of The Hunted.

In the days to follow Kathryn told me she had a friend who was an agent and that she would recommend me to him. It turned out her friend was Les Stobbe and based on Kathryn's recommendation, Les agreed to represent me. I forwarded my proposal to Les and he forwarded it to several CBA houses. In the six months to follow we received seven rejections. Some were positive, some polite, some . . . just rejections. But finally, in March of 2007 we got a request for a full manuscript from Realms. Six months later, after much interaction and approval meetings, they sent a contract.

As I look back over that year between the Philly conference and the arrival of my contract I am awed and humbled by how clearly God's fingerprints show up. There's no doubt in my mind that He orchestrated the events as they unfolded. He was in control from day one. Were there times of anxiety and discouragement? Sure. Were there times when I thought publication would never happen? Yes. But regardless of my little faith, God was still in charge and calling the shots. He had a plan--has a plan--and I am honored and humbled to be playing a part in it.

For His glory . . .