BACK DOOR PUBLISHING GIG by Thonie Hevron
I'm delighted to welcome my friend, Thonie Hevron, to my blog today. I met Thonie at last year's PSWA conference.
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| Thonie Hevron |
Marilyn suggested I write about how I got published. It’s a
great idea and may offer the unpublished writer some hope to be published!
I’ve been writing for years—since I could hold a pencil.
About fifteen years ago, I got serious and decided to write a novel. It took
several years but I completed Probable Cause which became By Force or Fear eventually.
Getting serious included joining a professional writing
association-Public Safety Writers
Association (PSWA but in those days it was known as Police Writers
Association). One of the perks of membership is a free manuscript evaluation by
a professional editor. I sent Probably Cause in and was encouraged to
submit it as an unpublished manuscript in the PSWA annual writing contest. I
tied for third place in the unpublished fiction novel category. Woohoo! This
made me an award winning author!
During this time, I continuously submitted query letters to
agents and publishers with nothing to show for it but a growing rejection pile.
In fact, until I signed my publishing contract in January 2014, I kept this up.
This was the path of traditional publishing and for a long time, this was the
route I thought I should follow. In early 2013, I began to feel the clock
ticking and decided to independently publish. It was a cumbersome effort but in
June 2013, I published By Force or Feat on Amazon. I had moderate
success.
By now, I had a second book in the final stages, Intent to Hold. Following in my first novel’s track, I decided to enter Intent in
the PSWA contest. Again, I won third place for unpublished fiction novel.
Yay! Okay. So, I’m getting tired of searching for agents.
I’ve won two book awards on two books so there must be some merit to my
writing. As I had earlier changed directions of my plan, I decided to hold off
on agent queries and concentrate on contests.
In 2013, PSWA put out their 2013
Anthology-Felons, Flames and Ambulance Rides, in which a short story of
mine was included. I found the publisher of the edition—Oak Tree Press—and looked up their
website.
Ohhhh, Oak Tree Press was sponsoring a contest! And in my
genres—mysteries and cop stories. The winner would get his/her manuscript
published in print and e-copy, (To date, By Force or Fear was only
published in e-format) and provide editing and covers, plus public relations
opportunities. Winning this prize would achieve my goal—to have a book
published. So I entered and months later, found out I won—first place!
The road to getting Intent to Hold was not easy
street. Editing proved to be a problem as I was so excited that I let many
boo-boos slip through the galleys. Working with Billie Johnson, the publisher,
was best when I did my job. It took a
few printings to get all the mistakes corrected, but I’ve learned my lesson.
Billie does her job and I do mine.
The promised promotion opportunities have
been consistently provided to venues I would not have found otherwise. I’m
thankful to Jeana Lomprez of Oak Tree Press for her help. A huge part of what I
consider my “success” is the marketing plan that OTP required up front. In
doing research, I learned many places where I could market my book, plus
organized my plan. OTP also published my first book, both debuting mid-July at
the PSWA 2014 Conference in Las Vegas.
Fast forward to 2015: I’ve missed the PSWA contest deadline
as With Malice Aforethought (my third Nick and Meredith Mystery) is not
yet complete. When I do, I’ll be sending it to OTP’s Acquisitions Editor,
Marilyn Olsen—the very person who recommended I submit my first story to PSWA.
At this writing, I do not have an agent, nor will I seek
one.
--Thonie Hevron
Intent to Hold Blurb:
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Reyes enlists
the help of his partner, Meredith Ryan, to negotiate the ransom of a
kidnapped family member. They fly to Mexico, where they are plunged into a
morass of intrigue and betrayal which threaten the lives of the entire family.
They battle nature, the Federales, a crime cartel, and even Nick’s wife to
solve the crime.
--Thonie Hevron
Website: Thonie Hevron
Comments
Can't wait to see you in Vegas, Thonie....didn't you promise to treat me to a cocktail?
Billie
Can't take too much credit for sticking with it--I've got a double dose of Scandinavian hard-headedness. I'm Swedish and Norwegian and we don't know how to quit! But sure glad I didn't!
Yes, Billie--a cocktail is the very least I owe you!!!
Marja McGraw