I’ve never been good at waiting. After all, how do you move forward if you’re stuck in one place? My debut novel, a historical fiction entitled Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke, has been caught in “publishing purgatory” for seven months now, and I’m frustrated with the snail’s pace that Literary Agents and publisher’s move.
There has been interest in my book; in fact it has been sitting on the desk (probably on the bottom of a huge stack of other manuscripts) at a literary agent in London and New York and at a small publisher in Boston. But I can’t get an answer from them! A simple “yes” or “no” is all I am asking for so I can plan my next move. I prefer straight up rejections (and I’ve gotten plenty of those).
Luckily, self-publishing is an alternative to traditional publishing, and it’s a much faster and easier way to get your book into print. There has been a boom in this industry over the past five years and now over 45 percent of all books are self-published. If an author feels ready to go to print like I do (my novel has been professionally edited, I have built a website and had a designer create the cover) then why wait? It certainly worked out well for these originally self-published authors: Lisa Genova, who wrote Still Alice, Gillian Flynn, who wrote Gone Girl, John Grisham, who wrote A Time to Kill and even E.L. James, who wrote Fifty Shades of Grey. In these cases, a traditional publisher acquired them after noting their successful sales and high level of interested readers.
Self-publishing means DIY but it also means having total control over the rights, layout and design of the book. This is important to me because, after all, it’s not every day you discover 150-year-old Civil War letters in your attic (written by your Irish great, great grandfather no less!) I spent years tracing my Irish roots, traveling to Ireland to gain insight, researching historical events, meeting with Irish historians (one of whom is kind enough to provide the Foreword to this book) so I could bring the characters to life. All of these little details, plus my strong desire to utilize original documents are important to me and by self-publishing I am certain that these will be included.
So what’s my book about? It is a story of an Irish family’s struggle to make it in America at a time when immigrants weren’t welcomed or supported. With few resources available to them, families had to make difficult sacrifices in order to survive. My great, great grandfather was one of those extraordinary people. His life was a gamble; he joined the Civil War in exchange for land hoping he could lift his family out of poverty. His wife Ellen was left at home in Massachusetts to care for her three young children and manage a new farm—all the while supporting her embattled husband. Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke is a story of love, faith, bravery; and the indestructible bond of family.
I wrote this novel to honor my great, great grandfather, and I hope I did him justice.
I am proud to announce that Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke will be released on May 10, 2016.
If you’d like to purchase a copy you can go to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com. My books will also be available soon at select stores. Please watch for announcements of book signings and a book launch!
Want to help spread the word? Please share this blog and add my novel to your book club list. Thanks to all who have supported me throughout this three-year journey. I appreciate each and every one of you!
To read more details about the book go to my website or check out my author page on FaceBook.
Yah! Congratulations. I can’t wait to buy your book. I am going to buy two copies one for me and one for my son Matthew who is going to be a high school English teacher. HIs birthday is on May 10th so it will make a great bday gift. I can’t wait to read it.
Aw, Elaine, that means the world to me! Thank you. How wonderful that your son wants to be a teacher, can you believe we are old enough to have our son’s graduate from college and begin careers? AHHHH! Happy Birthday to Matthew tomorrow and please come to a signing or my book launch party so I can sign your books!!!! (Remember how beautiful my handwriting is?)
Awesome Ellen.
Can’t wait to read it.
Love, Aunt Poog
Ps, I worked with the Three Bean Press for my book which was semi self published and I am still,pleased with the results.
Looking forward to seeing dreamt reviews on Amazon.
Almost high season in Maine. Can’t wait to see you and the fam
Thanks so much Poogie! I hope my book will be even half as successful as yours! I appreciate you taking the time to write your comment-it’s so sweet.
I can’t wait to read it!
You better read it; you and Quinn are characters in my book! Thanks for posting my sweet niece!
Way to bring Yours Faithfully to the world Ellen!
Thank you to my best childhood friend! You’ve always been there for me and I treasure our friendship.
Hi Ellen,
Congrats on your success of this wonderful achievement.
So If I buy this will you autograph it for me. 🙂
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Thank you Jack! I appreciate your support so much. Of course I will sign your book! I’ll either do it at a book signing or my book launch party… or anytime you want!
Good for you! So excited for you!
Thank you Kristen! Can’t wait to share with SMC! Pat Gallivant and Fr. Steve are both characters in my book.
I can’t wait to get your book! I love historical fiction, I read it all the time to my 3rd grade class! When I was a 7th grade teacher I taught the Civil War and I enjoyed teaching it.
Thanks! Please let me know what you think of it!