Thursday 6 July 2017

A New Direction

It seems appropriate to reactivate my blog exactly one year from when I last posted anything here – and also somewhat significant since I am about to enter a new phase in my writing life.

Last year at this time, the audio version of my novel Changing the Future had just been released and the audio of Irish Inheritance was in preparation. My novels were selling steadily (not in millions but certainly in hundreds each month), and I was in the middle of writing my 4th novel set in the west of Ireland. That novel, Irish Deceptions, was released in March this year.

A month later, on April 12th, I received the devastating news that my publisher was closing due to ill-health. I’ve been with her for over 5 years, and she and her team have been the most supportive and friendly people any writer could ever wish to work with. What other publisher would receive a submission (of one of my Irish novels) at the beginning of February with my apology that I was submitting it far too late for it to be released in time for St. Patrick’s Day – and then fast-track it so that it was actually published 22 days later?

Of course I was now left with the question of what to do with my 9 novels once they were removed from online distributors at the end of August.

In a knee-jerk reaction, I sent two of my novels in mid-April to a ‘traditional’ British publisher. I must admit I was slightly put off when they made me feel like a newbie writer looking for a first acceptance, rather than an established author with thousands of sales over the past 5 years, but I accepted that I would have to wait ‘up to two months’ (as quoted by the submissions editor) for a decision. The two months passed, and then I heard that someone else had to wait over 5 months for a decision, and even longer for actual publication. At that point I came to a decision – there was no way I wanted to wait a year or more for each of my novels to be re-published (one a year = 9 years!), so I withdrew my novels from this publisher.

I then contacted Rebecca (my publisher) and asked for her advice. Remember what I said earlier about a supportive publisher? In the space of a couple of hours last Monday evening, she contacted another publisher – and came back to me with the response that they would be happy to take all my novels! Whatever you said to them, Rebecca – thank you!

I went to bed on Monday evening in part huge relief and part stunned amazement.

Since then, life has been a whirlwind of signing contracts with Fire Star Press, an imprint of Prairie Rose Publications, and providing my ideas for the new cover designs, since they want to publish my Irish books first (and all at the same time) as the ‘Mist Na Mara’ series. Those of you who have read the books will know exactly what Mist Na Mara is!

A year on from my last blog post here, my life is setting off in a new direction – and I’m really looking forward to working with Cheryl and Livia at Fire Star Press. I’ll let you know how it goes – so watch this space! J

20 comments:

  1. I'm so happy for you! Congratulations. Cannot wait to see what they do with the series. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks, Jen! I've already had the new cover for the first Irish book, but am waiting for all four to be completed before I do a 'cover reveal'.

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  2. So glad its all sorted ..delighted for you xx

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  3. Very busy and productive year. So happy for you and all your readers (including me)!

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    1. Thanks so much, Barbara - looks like you may get more books to read in the bath now! :-)

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  4. So pleased for you after what, I know, has been a frustrating and upsetting time. Great news and I can't wait for book 5 in the Mist Na Mara series. xx

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    1. Thanks, Carol - and thanks so much for all your support during these last 3 months. Can't begin to tell you how much I've appreciated it xx

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  5. So glad to hear things are back on track.

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    1. Thanks so much, Adrienne - and thanks for visiting my blog, lovely to hear from you again :-)

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  6. The British publisher doesn't realize what a jewel they let slip away. Thankfully the ladies who own the Fire Star Press imprint of Prairie Rose Publications recognized a talented author and truly sweet woman when presented with her info. Blessings and a million sales to you, Paula.

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    1. Aww, thank you so much, Becca. I really will miss working with you, though - but thank you for all your wonderful support and friendship :-)

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  7. Wonderful to have you back, looking fab. Good luck Paula.

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    1. Many thanks, Jane! Now I have to remember to keep updating this blog - and not leave it for another 12 months! ;-)

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  8. Congratulations, Paula. Cheryl and Livia have published one of my westerns via their Sundown Press imprint and another is scheduled for release this month. They're good people.

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    1. Thanks, John. Congrats on your new novels - I shall obviously be in good company with Cheryl and Livia's authors!

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  9. That's fantastic news, Paula - I'm so pleased for you. Thant makes perfect sense to publish the Irish novels as a series and will no doubt bring you many, many new readers. All the best with your new publisher.

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    1. Many thanks, Rosemary. It's been a frustrating few months, but I'm looking forward to the future again now :-)

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