From the back cover of the book:
"Three years ago, Beth Gallagher lost her brother, Josh, in a tragic accident. Grief-stricken and estranged from her father, she turned to the one man her brother warned her about--Kyle Heinrich. Now she's discovered his dark side.
"She flies to the Smoky Mountains to clear her mind and seek God's will about her impending marriage. With the help of a new friend, she finds the answers she needs, but will she have the resolve to follow through? And, if so, what will it cost her?"
Linnette R. Mullin is an author of life-changing romance. She has been married to Johnathan for over twenty years, and they have been blessed with four amazing sons. Some of her writing credits include Charles Stanley's "In Touch" magazine, "101 Facets of Faith", Guideposts "Extraordinary Answers to Prayer", and "Public Health Alert". She is the founder and coordinator of Palmetto Christian Writer's Network in Lexington, S.C. and she runs the "We are Writers" group on Facebook. Her favorite things in life are her family, her church, reading and writing and her Savior most of all.
LINNETTE R. MULLIN
HER GUEST BLOG
“Finding Beth” from
Conception to Publication
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my writing journey,
it’s that there is no such thing as a typical writer’s journey. There certainly
wasn’t anything typical about mine. I won’t inundate you with my whole history,
however - just the path to publishing “Finding Beth”.
Beth’s story started out as a means of writing
accountability for me in January, 2008. My husband was being laid off and I
needed to go to work for the first time in our marriage. I didn’t want to stop
writing altogether. I needed something that would help me continue to hone my
skills. The HACWN writer’s conference I attended in the Fall of ‘07 encouraged
writers to start building a platform through blogging. So, I started my blog,
“An Odyssey in Prose”, and “Finding Beth” was born.
I published a chapter once or twice a month, limiting myself
on my word count. My goal was to always start with a hook and end with a hook
that would bring the readers back for more. My precious readers encouraged me
to keep writing. They wanted to know how the story would end. After a year and
a half, I realized that Beth’s story was anything but a short serial story. It
was a full blown novel. I stopped publishing on-line so I could focus on
finishing the book and on October 31, 2010, I finally typed “the end”.
I spent the next few years editing, rewriting, peddling Beth
to agents and publishers, and investigating the possibility of self-publishing.
During that time, I visited home for Christmas in 2011. Author Mark Littleton
advised me to contact Pamela Sonnenmoser about her publisher: CrossRiver Media
Goup. I sent off a very unprofessional query letter to Pamela. After all, she
was a friend through HACWN. I had no idea at the time that she was the
acquisitions editor. She eventually got back with me and asked for a few more
details. I sent what she asked for and then continued investigating the
self-publishing route, not realizing I’d sent her a very unconventional book
proposal.
Weeks and months went by and I nearly forgot about Pamela’s
publisher. I’m not sure I even knew the publisher’s name at that time. It
wasn’t really that important to me as the more I investigated self-publishing,
the more convinced I became that it was the route for me. In July, however, Tamara
Clymer contacted me, asking for a full proposal. I submitted it reluctantly, I
admit. After all, I had just made the decision to self-publish, I had lined up
a cover artist, and I was at peace about the decision I’d made. So, instead of
getting excited, I found myself saying, “Okay, Lord, what are you doing?”
Once CrossRiver received the proposal, it didn’t take long
for Tamara to ask for the full manuscript. Tamara was very gracious to let me
put off sending the full manuscript until I “finished editing”. I finally had
to call it quits, however, or I’d never get anywhere. I sent her the manuscript
and before long she let me know that CrossRiver liked it. They offered me a
contract and, on December 5, 2012, we signed!
Here I am one year later with my book in my hand, waiting
for the UPS man to show up on my doorstep with my first 100 copies. My readers
will keep me busy signing books and packaging them to send off just as soon as
those books arrive. God is good!
If you’re a writer, let me encourage you with these words.
Your writing journey is your own. Don’t compare yourself to other writers. Your
journey is your own just as mine is my own. Trust God with it. Do your
homework. Seek publication. Investigate different avenues. Through it all, God
will teach you and strengthen you and guide you down the best path for you
*****************
I have previewed Finding Beth. It is a captivating story. Watch for my complete review on my blog on Thursday! :) Preorders are now available at www.LinnetteRMullin.com
Here are some links for more information on this talented author and her book: Finding Beth
Twitter:@LinnetteRMullin
Purchase Links:
www.LinnetteRMullin.com--Finding Beth tab
Sharon, thanks so much for hosting me today and for your enthusiastic support! Sorry I'm just now checking in. I've been busy packing books to ship later today. What a fun chore!
ReplyDeleteWonderful story!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Daddy! :D
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ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Linnette! I enjoy the behind the scenes details!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stephanie! :D
DeleteCongratulations Linnette and thank you for your encouraging words to beginning authors. Blessings to you and your writing ministry.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Rachel! :D
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