Anyone who’s ever read my blogs knows I always title them with a song or lyrics to a song, because I like to see how many people can guess the song or artist. So, if you want to play along, tell me who sings the song in the title.
Now…onto the blog .
As any author will tell you, writing is hard. So if you’re planning to pursue the dream of becoming published, make sure you wear plenty of body armor.
Like most writers out there, I started writing when I was a child. It was my way to fill a void.
I was in my late thirties when I decided to actually plant rump to chair and start writing with the intention of getting it published.
My first attempt at a story did not receive the warm, glowing review from an editor I told myself it would and in all fairness, looking at the unfinished manuscript now, I was highly delusional to think so.
However, that not so glowing response to my first book gave me the determination to do it right. So for the next four or so years I did as much studying and training as I could find on the Internet. Living on a military income with four children to take care of didn’t allow me to spend real money on my training, so I read books and found a free online writing course which really helped me understand the craft….as opposed to reading published authors and trying to emulate them.
So, in 2003 I sat down and wrote my first book. I thought it was awesome! And really…the premise was…but when I sent it to another writer (who was fairly new at fiction writing) he tore it to shreds and all but said, I’d never be a real writer. So, instead of letting him dissuade me, I decided to prove him wrong and went back to my "how to" books and studied some more. It wasn’t until an editor I had submitted a query to, asked to read the whole book that I though, Yeah…I can do this . Of course, that was short lived when the editor rejected the manuscript saying it "wasn’t ready". However she gave me wonderful insight into what I was doing wrong. So, with her feedback, I went back to the manuscript and spent the next three months *fixing* it. When I was satisfied I’d done what needed to be done, I sent it to a reader, who was the wife of a writer friend. She loved it! That was my sign. I sent the book back out and three months later found an agent.
Of course, now you’re probably thinking…so where’s the heartache ? Well, four months after I signed with this agent (who happened to be at one of the more prestigious firms in NY) I got a call saying she was leaving the house and could no longer represent me. Thus began my first "shot to the heart ".
It took me a year to find a new agent (2005) and when I did she was very enthusiastic about the work and started submitting right away. About four months later, we got interest from an editor. That summer I met up with the editor at the RWA conference. We talked about what she planned to do for the book, she asked if I’d be able to do the revisions she wanted and she was genuinely excited about taking the book to committee. Then, in November that same year, she asked me if I’d write a novella for an anthology she planned to put together. She only gave me a 15K word count, because I’m an unpublished, unknown writer and she told me it had to be contemporary–I’ve only written suspense—and erotic—I can do a hot love scene…but there’s a difference between my hot and the erotic she wanted.
Needless to say, I was totally out of my comfort zone….but I wrote up three chapters and a proposal and sent them to her. Since it was the holidays and the publishing business pretty much shuts down in November and December, I didn’t know what she thought of the story. Then …..
Heartache .
Before the editor could go to committee with my novel or submit the novella, she left the house. We still submitted the novella because the anthology was supposed to still be a "go", but the editors sat on it for three months with no reply and my agent pulled it. And, instead of resubmitting my novels (she had my two romantic suspense books), my agent decided to wait for my current work in progress. However, life and things happened in the past year that kept me from working on the story and I was unable to send her a completed manuscript by the end of July, so she cut me from her client list.
Heartache.
Now, you’re probably wondering why anyone would want to subject themselves to such pain. Well, for me the reason is, because if I don’t….how will I know? (If he really loves me…oh, sorry….can’t stop the songs in my head). 
However, because of my own stubborn determination and persistence, I AM now published. My book, Her Will His Way (the novella I mentioned earlier) released April 18th at Cobblestone Press. I’m so very proud of this book and am so happy to be able to share it with you all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Terri Molina is a native Texan, born and raised in Southeast Texas. She is an active member of the Romance Writers of America including the Northwest Houston Chapter and Desert Rose Chapter in Phoenix, Arizona. She writes multicultural romantic suspense, blending in the flavor of the Southwest with her Mexican heritage. After years of living a nomadic life with her Coast Guard husband, she now resides in Southeast Arizona with her husband, four children and a dog. When she’s not writing she enjoys reading, singing karaoke with the kids and spending time with family and friends.
To learn more visit her at
www.terrimolina.com
June 25th, 2008 by 
deecarney
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