Please welcome C A Anderson as she talks about her scary road to publishing and an even scarier scenario for her paranormal novel.
Six years ago I started writing a novel based on a nightmare. For four years, I worked on the book rewriting eight times until doubt stopped me. Then I had an idea, I’ll write a bunch of short stories. To prove to myself if I am a writer or not. So I wrote and I ended up fourteen short stories. Now I have doubt with fourteen piles of papers on my art room floor. Not all can be best sellers, so I picked three books to start rewriting. My daughter, boyfriend, and friends encouraged me to keep writing. I buried myself in these books. I tracked every step each character took, what they said, what the weather was like, and what was being done to them. I wrote for months in my cave of isolation. From time to time, I let everyone know my progress, and they kept encouraging me. But doubt was still with me after every rewrite. It came to the point that one book had had all the rewriting it could take. Then fear showed up, time to have someone else read it, a professional. Doubt, fear, and I sent it to an editor.
For six weeks I agonized over why I hadn’t gotten the book back, yet dreading the day I do get the book back. What if the editor says its garbage? What if the editor says I’m a hack, a phony, and I better keep my day job. I continue to work on the two other books while I waited with doubt and fear. Then the day arrived, that email was there. It was staring at me, daring me to open it. I was paralyzed. That email had the power to destroy me. Blast my hopes and dreams into small twitching bits on the carpet. I took me hours to raise the courage to open it. By dinner time I was done making excuses, time to find my courage, and open the damn thing. It was the best letter I could ever asked for. It contained everything I need to hear about my book, what was wrong, and what was right. I wasn’t going to implode, I was elated! After four weeks of correcting and rewriting, I sent copies to my friends to read. They all liked the book and encouraged me to publish. Three weeks later I self-published my first book and kicked doubt in the face. Don’t listen to fear and doubt, publish your damn book!
Stuart Mason, a traveling salesman is trying to get home in a storm. He is grateful when he finds a vacancy at the end of the strip. The Deco Hotel is feeling generous and allows Stuart to enjoy the grandeur of a bye gone era. That is until the previous occupants of room 309 come back. Stuart is mistaken for a mob boss and is forced to play out the murders that took place over seventy years ago. Stuart talked his way into that room, now he has to talk his way out.
Available
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