My Journey to Publication ~ Knight Of Runes

by | Jul 24, 2011 | Carina Press, Denise Nielsen, Edit Your Book in a Month, Eliza Knight, FFnP, Knight of Runes, RWA | 46 comments

I’m just sitting here looking at the cover of my debut novel, Knight of Runes, scheduled for release, November 14 by Carina Press. Okay, so you may think I’m sitting and staring at it because he’s a really hot guy. Only for a little while. I have one in residence, hot to me that is. The picture of Lord Arik may not be real but I realized that my novel is. 
I started this project March, 2009 with an innocent excitement to help a friend write her book. It quickly escalated into creating a series of romance novels. We each had stories in our head and made plans to connect them. After a few months of hard work and several tens of thousands words on each of our stories, we found that our idea of tying them together wouldn’t work. The stories would work well independently so we decided to critique each other’s stories and finish our books individually. 
Her life was filled with a beautiful daughter getting ready for high school graduation, college tours, New York marathon training, and a job that took her all over the country (and sometimes the world). My situation is very different. My three extraordinary children are independent and on their own. I use my treadmill as an extension of my closet, and my job is an ninety minute commute to New York City. 
I had the time and I had the story so, I went full out. I researched the renaissance, manor life, herbs, poisons, karate moves, survival training, field medical procedures, druids, magic, warding, myths, and knights. Then I wrote, and wrote, and wrote. By August, I had 105,000 words and a completed story. Now what? I looked for a support group and found Romance Writers of America. I spent the next fourteen months learning about craft, research, publishing, and career building. I pitched to agents and editors and kept on polishing my manuscript, my pitch, and my synopsis.
In October, 2010, I participated in an online pitch sponsored by Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal (FFnP), an online RWA special interest chapter. Carina Press requested my full manuscript. I gave it one more polish after taking Eliza Knight‘s, Edit Your Book in a Month, and sent it off January 2011. February 3rd, I got a call from Carina Press. They wanted to publish my story.  
After making her repeat her name, I must have heard it wrong, it sounded like she said Angela James, it finally sunk in. This was THE CALL. All that practicing in the shower going over and over what I would say, how sophisticated I would sound and the brilliant questions I would ask, must have floated down the drain. I sounded anything but coherent and witty.
For days I thought, Angela must be mistaken or she must be calling everyone that pitched. So many agents and editors told me that time travel romance wouldn’t sell. I was certain Carina Press would change their minds. When the contract came I had to admit that it was real.  
My family, day job colleagues, and friends (writers and non-writers), all celebrated with me as the project moved into its next phase, ready for production. With my editor, Denise Nielsen, we’ve worked through the edits,  cover fact sheet, and back cover blurb.
So, I sat and looked at the cover and realized that all that hard work, the disappointments, and even the doubts were so worth it. I look at the cover, a symbol of reality to me, and get goosebumps. The excitement bubbles up all over again. And that hot guy, the one in residence, told me he knew it all along. 

46 Comments

  1. Dawn Chartier on July 24, 2011 at 5:48 am

    Ruth, I enjoyed reading your journey. And no they didn't offer contracts to everyone who got a request that day. (raising hand) I should have taken that editing class you mentioned too. lol

    So many readers love time travels, and I have no idea why publishers are shy to buy them.

    Congrats on the book and a great cover!

    Reply
  2. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 5:53 am

    @Dawn Chartier

    Eliza's Edit Your Book in a Month is great. I recommend it highly. I really thought everyone got a call. I was surprised at Nationals when Angela said they published only 8% of the pitches they receive.

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I'm glad you like the cover. I think he's really hot!

    Reply
  3. Lita Harris on July 24, 2011 at 5:54 am

    This is so exciting. Very cool cover.

    Reply
  4. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 5:56 am

    @Lita

    Yes, it is a cool cover. I've been staring at it for two days.

    Thanks for leaving a comment.

    Reply
  5. Rachael Johns on July 24, 2011 at 6:25 am

    Beautiful cover Ruth and lovely story about how you came to writing 🙂

    Reply
  6. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 6:27 am

    @Rachael Johns

    Thanks Rachael. I'm glad you enjoyed the story and the cover.

    Reply
  7. Diana Quincy on July 24, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    Thanks for sharing your journey to publication with us. I loved reading about it. Congratulations and good luck!

    Reply
  8. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    @Diana Quincy

    Thank you for your good wishes. It has been a wonderful and exciting journey with lots of hard work and many lessons along the way.

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

    Reply
  9. Unknown on July 24, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Fabulous cover!! Congrats! I loved reading about your journey to publication. Maybe we should call you the accidental author! LOL Kidding. Wishing you the best of luck and enormous sales.

    Reply
  10. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    @Roz Lee

    I know! Isn't the cover fantastic. Accidental or just dumb luck, either way it was definitely hard work. I don't know what kept me from writing all these years. Stories are a part of me. They pop into my head all the time. Now I just wish I could remember some of them. LOL.

    Thank you for your good wishes. And about enormous sales, from your mouth to the readers ears!

    Reply
  11. Eliza Knight on July 24, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    STILL loving that cover!!! I am so thrilled for you Ruth. I think for me, when I see the cover, the truth really sinks in too. And like you said, all the hard work, the disappointments, the highs, the lows, everything is all worth it in the end. We slave over our babies because we're passionate about them, and launching them into the world is bittersweet 🙂 And totally freaking awesome!!! I knew the moment you sent in the first paragraph excerpt of your book when you took my class that you had a winner. WOOHOO!!! YOU DID IT!!! Now hurry up and write the 2nd one! lol

    XOXO,
    Eliza

    Reply
  12. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    @Eliza Knight

    Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and working with me to make my story come alive. You are so right about the hard work, disappointments, and elations. I wouldn't change it for the world.

    Thanks for your support and you're right – I'm off to write the next book.

    Hugs!

    Reply
  13. Trish on July 24, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    Love your cover!
    Very sexy!

    Reply
  14. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    @Trish

    *Heavy breathless sigh* Yea, gorgeous and sexy.

    I'm glad you like it. I'm off to take a cold shower!

    Reply
  15. Unknown on July 24, 2011 at 2:07 pm

    Very beautiful & hawt cover. I loved your journey. Can't wait to read this!

    Reply
  16. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    @Rachel Firasek

    I'm still fanning myself! I'm glad you liked my journey. I'll keep you posted about the release date.

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

    Reply
  18. Anonymous on July 24, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    Congratulations, Ruth. I'm very happy for you. Love the cover.

    Reply
  19. Paisley Kirkpatrick on July 24, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    What a great story, Ruth. You have every right to feel proud and jumping for joy. You've certainly worked hard for your dream and how nice to have support at home, too. Congratulations of such a hunky cover. It's definitely HOT!!!

    Reply
  20. Sandy L. Rowland on July 24, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    Ruth, I got goosebumps with you.
    Love hearing about your journey. I'm working on it and your success gives me hope.

    Thanks for sharing it and love your cover. Yum!

    Reply
  21. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    @Sandy L. Rowland

    Thanks so much Sandy. I keep pinching myself. I'm glad you find inspiration in my journey. I can't wait to share your success as you have participated in mine.

    … Ruth

    Reply
  22. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 8:22 pm

    @Paisley Kirkpatrick

    Thanks for your congratulations. I'm glad you enjoyed hearing about my journey.

    The cover is hot. Carina Press outdid themselves.

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

    Reply
  23. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    @Jamie Babette

    Thank you so much for your good wishes and I'm glad you liked the cover. I have to fan myself just thinking about it.

    Reply
  24. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    @Jewel's Gems

    Thanks so much for your good wishes and for stopping by my blog. I hope to see you here again.

    Reply
  25. Karen Cino on July 24, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    Congratulations Ruth! Love the cover. It's refreshing to hear a happy ending to a long journey. Hope this is the beginning of a long writing career.

    Reply
  26. Ruth A Casie on July 24, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    @Karen

    Thanks so much for your good wishes and support. You have encouraged me every step of the way. I'm looking forward to the RWNYC mini conference in August and the writing retreat in Ocean Grove New Jersey in October.

    Thanks again,

    … Ruth

    Reply
  27. Native NYer on July 25, 2011 at 12:11 am

    Congratulations! Great cover. Can't wait to read it.

    Reply
  28. Joelene Coleman on July 25, 2011 at 12:11 am

    I knew the first time you submitted a sample in Eliza Knight's class that you had something amazing. Your concept was different, your writing eloquent and engaging. This is only the beginning, and I'm glad I got a peek when it was still "incubating." I've saved everyone's submissions. It would be fun to post & see what we kept and what we trashed. The cover is wonderful. Yes, he's a fine example of "guycandy." Way to go!

    Reply
  29. Ruth A Casie on July 25, 2011 at 12:17 am

    @J. Coleman

    Thank you Joelene for your confidence in me when mine was waffling. Your support is very important to me.

    What a great idea about the submissions! It would be wonderful to see what we kept and what got tossed.

    Yeah, the cover is … it's just great.

    Thanks for your comment. I really love them.

    … Ruth

    Reply
  30. Ruth A Casie on July 25, 2011 at 12:19 am

    @Native NYer

    Thanks for reading the blog and leaving a comment. I'm glad you like the cover and I will certainly keep you posted about the release.

    … Ruth

    Reply
  31. Autumn Jordon on July 25, 2011 at 2:21 am

    Great story and a yummy cover. I'm sure November can't here fast enough for you. Enjoy the high.

    AJ

    Reply
  32. test on July 25, 2011 at 2:21 am

    A wonderful story with a happy ending! Congrats Ruth. And we share a great editor in Denise.

    Reply
  33. Ruth A Casie on July 25, 2011 at 2:23 am

    @Coleen Kwan

    Thanks for your good wishes. Yes, Denise is just awesome!

    … Ruth

    Reply
  34. Ruth A Casie on July 25, 2011 at 2:27 am

    @Autumn Jordon

    Yes, it is a yummy cover. It's only 113 days, but whose counting? You're so right about the high. It's wonderful.

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

    … Ruth

    Reply
  35. Unknown on July 25, 2011 at 10:45 am

    Ruth, I'm so happy for you. The cover is wonderful. Very sexy. Something how getting the cover adds a final touch of reality to the whole process.

    Like you, taking Eliza's Edit Your Book in a Month was the best thing I could have done, not only for my writing, but for the friendships I've formed from that group.

    Congrats! And continue to enjoy the journey.

    Reply
  36. Ruth A Casie on July 25, 2011 at 10:49 am

    @Christina Wolfer

    I couldn't agree with you more! Eliza's class was a turning point for me. She has become a good friend and terrific sounding board.

    You're also right about the cover. I've been working through my edits with my editor but the reality of publishing my story really hit home when I saw the cover with my name. It's really going to happen in 112 days, but who's counting!

    Thanks for leaving a comment and, more importantly, for your support and those of our other Writing Divas!

    With warm regards always,

    … Ruth

    Reply
  38. Marlo Berliner on July 26, 2011 at 12:37 am

    I know this story… and it makes me smile every time I hear you tell it. And I absolutely love your cover!!! Congrats again!

    Reply
  39. Shawna Thomas on July 26, 2011 at 12:37 am

    Congratulations, Ruth!

    I love hearing about a writer's road to publication. Your cover is amazing!

    I agree with you, there is nothing like seeing the proof that all your hard work paid off.

    I'm going to have to check out the edit your book in a month class it usually takes me much longer.
    ; )

    Shawna

    Reply
  40. Luci Weston on July 26, 2011 at 12:37 am

    I am so proud of you, and happy for you!! Yes, the cover is amazing, but so is your focus and determination to make your dream a reality. Your willingness to share your journey reminds me that all is possible! Thank you. (And I can't wait to read your book!!)

    Reply
  41. Sandy on July 26, 2011 at 12:37 am

    Great story and great cover. I know how you feel — when I saw my cover for the first time I started to cry. It makes everything real.

    Reply
  42. Ruth A Casie on July 26, 2011 at 12:44 am

    @Sandy –

    You're right. The cover made it real. I'm glad you felt the same way when you saw your first cover.

    Thanks for leaving a comment.

    … Ruth

    Reply
  43. Ruth A Casie on July 26, 2011 at 12:47 am

    @Caridad Pineiro

    Thanks for the comment and stopping by. Congrats on your excerpts for The Lost on Romance Reviews!

    Reply
  44. Ruth A Casie on July 26, 2011 at 12:49 am

    @Luci Weston

    Thanks so much for your encouragement and kind words. You helped too. Your encouragement has been awesome.

    … Ruth

    Reply
  45. Ruth A Casie on July 26, 2011 at 12:52 am

    @Shawna Thomas

    Thank you for your kind words. Eliza's class is wonderful. The writers in our group became so close that we started our own support loop and cheer each other on.

    I'm glad you enjoyed my journey. It was hard but so worth it.

    … Ruth

    Reply
  46. Ruth A Casie on July 26, 2011 at 12:53 am

    @Marlo

    He is hot isn't it! I'm glad you don't mind hearing my journey again.

    … Ruth

    Reply

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