Wednesday, May 27, 2015

A Writing Anniversary by Jamie Hill

http://www.amazon.com/Family-Secrets-Cop-Book-ebook/dp/B004478IN6/
Ten years ago in June I signed my first contract to have a book published. Family Secrets wasn't the first book I wrote, but it was the first to get published, other than a couple of short stories. I had a wonderful editor (thank you, Susan) and I really loved the book. I'll never forget my first ever review-- 4 and 1/2 stars out of 5, and the reviewer said glowing things. I printed that puppy out and carried it around for days, reading it to anyone who would listen.

The book did okay, and garnered more lovely reviews. Sadly, the small press that published Family Secrets closed it's doors and my book was an orphan. It took several years before I found a new publisher and the next two I chose folded before I ever really got going. (The book had five different covers in it's short life, too!) I didn't give up, kept persevering, but just couldn't seem to find the right fit for the book and me. Harlequin liked my premise but said they could never have divorced heroes or heroines with kids for the lines I submitted to. (Really?)  By the time I got done trying to figure out their guidelines, my head was spinning. But it would have been nice to see my book in bookstores.

Actually, a nearby bookstore, Hastings, has a local author section, and they let me place some copies of Family Secrets there on consignment until they got too dusty a couple years later. I sold two, and one was to my best friend. LOL (An aside--Thanks to Books We Love, Family Secrets is now available by request at any bookstore, just for the asking. That's so cool.)

http://www.amazon.com/Family-Ties-Cop-Book-ebook/dp/B00457XJMK/
Family Secrets was always meant to be part of a series. I started book two, Family Ties, shortly after book one. But frankly, when I couldn't find a good home for the first book, I didn't have much motivation to complete the second one.

My publisher, Books We Love, came along at just right time in my life. Once Family Secrets was happily settled in, I got busy and finished Family Ties. In 2012 the Amazon revolution happened, and many of our Books We Love titles took off. I'm thrilled to say that Family Secrets was one of them. It hit #67 on the Top 100 Paid Kindle Books, which was great considering the thousands of books Kindle offers. 

What that did was motivate me to get off my duff and write that third book I'd always imagined. It actually came easier than I expected, and I was very, very pleased with the result. Family Honor made the sixth novel I'd published, three romantic suspense and three older titles that were straight romance. At that point I decided that romantic suspense is my true love. 

I've continued in that spirit with my latest romantic suspense series, Witness Security. I'm currently working on the third book in that one. I hope you'll check out my books and join me on my unfinished journey!



Family Honor

Bodies of dead women are piling up and Detective Melanie Curtis is doing everything she can to solve the 'Cheerleader Slasher' case. Surprised to discover her chief has requested help from the FBI, she's even more shocked when she meets the sexy FBI special agent sent to assist her.
 
SSA Nate Willis tracks serial killers for a living. The slasher case is a challenge, but nothing compared to the feisty police detective he finds leading the investigation. Their attraction is swift and mutual, but the killer is escalating and they need to solve the case before they can focus on their personal relationship. When the unthinkable happens and the investigation is turned upside down, is their chance for happiness also in jeopardy?

“Author Jamie Hill has a knack for pulling a reader deeper and deeper into her stories as they try to figure out where she is leading them.” ~ Tammy, Fallen Angel Reviews




3 comments:

  1. Jamie, kudos to you for preserving with this series and with your writing in general. Publishing can be a crazy business, as you well know, but you've hung in there. Best of luck!

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  2. Thanks Sydell, you are absolutely right! It's a wild ride but it's been loads of fun so far.

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  3. Hi Jamie,
    Glad you persevered, otherwise readers would have missed out on some fabulous reads. Your road to publication sounds rather like mine. I sure am glad Books We Love came along.
    Cheers
    Margaret

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