Today we welcome Debut Author:
She has come to share with us – a little of her own writing journey
and some of that much-needed encouragement.
She has also graciously offered to host a giveaway!
Thank You Rachel!
God Bless You!
OK, first – questions:
– Many authors say their first novel will never see the light of day. Was “Letters From Grace” your first completed novel?
In fact, it was not. The very first novel I wrote is set in the 1920s. However, when the premise for Letters from Grace came to me in the early morning hours of one August morning, I ditched the first novel and found myself completely lost in Grace and Luke’s story. The ideas came to me without hesitation.
As for the first novel, I still have plans to incorporate that into a series of its own…just a little further down the road.
– Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to self-publish?
There are so many little details in the publishing industry. I won’t get into all of them, but for myself it was more personal than professional. I had everything lined up; an agent, even a press! But the timing was all off for me. I’m thankful for the wonderful people God used in this process and decision. Everyone in the traditional publishing spotlight was incredibly supportive and understanding of my situation. All I wanted to do was write, and I had a whole series ready for publishing. All I needed to do was grab a cover designer and editor and hit the submit button.
This decision has also enabled me keep time as my own. I am in charge of my deadlines and how quickly I want the next stories to appear online. It has also gifted me with experience I never would have ventured into before. I am learning so much about marketing resources, cover design, formatting, and HTML codes–it’s all a new language for me! And I love it!
– Would you mind sharing with us a bit about your publishing journey? How did you find your cover artist? Who put together the insides for you?
My publishing journey has been amazing. So many agents and editors have encouraged and walked me through this process with invaluable insight! My cover designer is actually a well-known author. I contacted Roseanna White (Author of historical romance) when I learned of her cover design side business. I already had a sketch of what I wanted my cover to look like and sent that file over to her. She then chose the photos and models and based upon my questionnaire put together the most amazing cover…it was exactly what I imaged it to look like, but with so much more beauty than I could have hoped for (if that makes sense). I plan to use her in the future and can’t say enough about her talent in this area. She’s a peach!!
As for the inside layout and format, that was all moi. There were times when it was frustrating, but when I figured out I was doing it all wrong, the right way was so much easier. 😉
– Are you planning to continue self-publishing the entire series? Or… if a traditional publisher wanted to buy the rights, would you go that way?
As of right now, yes, I do plan to continue with self-publishing. The 2nd book in the series, Maggie’s Mission, is due for release in January, 2015.
If the Lord should move a publisher to contact me on publishing through their brand, I would take careful consideration in prayer before I gave my answer. There are many details that come into play, and depending on my standing as an author and the pros and cons of the business, I would need to consult with my higher authority. 🙂
– Do you have any special suggestions or advice you would like to share with struggling or novice authors out there?
I sure do. I would suggest those writers to keep plugging away in writing what they LOVE. Your best work will bleed through the outpouring of your heart. Listen to that nagging voice that says, “write the story.” I truly believe all my 5-star reviews have come about because I wrote what was on my heart.
Secondly, learn and ask questions. Don’t ever stop learning about the craft of writing. The industry is constantly changing. Rules have changed. Keep up with the latest news and techniques and incorporate those things into your writing.
And last, but not least, ask someone to critique your work and don’t be afraid to hear what you could do better. It will in fact enhance your writing capabilities and push you to put forth your best effort. I have crit partners and I still receive red marks across my manuscripts. It’s not a bad thing, and it will open your eyes to new angles and fresh ideas.
Thanks for having me here today!
Please join me in thanking Rachel for taking time
out of a very busy schedule to answer these questions for us.
And I hope all of you have found this as inspiring as I have!
Keep reading for details on the giveaway.
Now for some other info about Rachel and her debut novel:
And you can find more on her WEBSITE.
Obsessed with World War II since the tender age of 17, Rachel has been studying The Greatest Generation for 13 years and composing stories of love and war for three years. Her first project,
Letters from Grace, claimed a spot in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write Contest in 2012 and semi-finaled in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, 2014.
Letters from Grace, book 1 in the Love & War series, released September, 2014. She resides in Central Maryland with her husband and four children. Readers can learn more about Rachel at
www.racheldmuller.com or find her on Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads.
You can connect with Rachel by clicking the links below:
Don’t miss Rachel’s DEBUT novel, “Letters From Grace”
Letters from Grace, Book 1 – Now Available!
Get your copy at Amazon.com
Can she risk losing her heart and the man she loves…again?
Scarred from the death of her fiancé in World War II, Grace Campbell must learn to love again. Lieutenant Luke Brady could make falling in love easy…except he’s going to war. Only one thing will keep a delicate thread tied between—letters. But the suave Dr. William Keller enchants Grace with his charm and proposes marriage. She must choose between them. Will she settle for comfort and safety or risk losing her true love on the Normandy beaches?
Endorsements:
In LETTERS FROM GRACE, talented author Rachel Muller proves that nothing–fear, misunderstanding, lack of faith, not even war–can stand in the way of true love. Readers will identify with the tough choices faced by Muller’s characters, and wait with bated breath for the next installment in the Love and War series. Make room for these novels on your “keepers” shelf, because you’ll want to read the realistic, heart-pounding stories again and again! (Loree Lough, bestselling author of more than 100 award-winning books, including “A Child to Love” and “Those Marshall Boys” series from Harlequin Heartwarming.)
SOUNDS EXCITING DOESN’T IT!
WOW!
And this is only the first book of the series!
Rachel Muller is a particular inspiration to me for a couple of reasons.
She did what she was supposed to do. She wrote, rewrote, edited, had her work critiqued and rewrote again before sending it out to various editors and agents.
Her book was even a finalist in Harlequin’s “So You Think You Can Write” contest!
But, when it all came down to it, and when the timeline didn’t work for her, she knew it was more important that she get her story in front of readers – so she did what she had to do and self-published!
And I don’t know about you but I think her story is such an inspiration to writers everywhere!
GOD BLESS YOU RACHEL! And may you continue writing for years and years to come!
AND NOW…
… our GIVEAWAY!
Rachel has graciously offered to give away TWO prizes!
First Prize is ONE signed copy of “Letters From Grace”
and Second prize is ONE signed bookmark!
What do you have to do?
First you have to SHARE this post!
You can share it on the social media site of your choice!
Then come back here and post a comment below with the link!
FOR FACEBOOK:
Click HERE and share our Facebook Post.
And apparently Facebook will NOT let me see all of the shares due to privacy settings so…
You can chose whether to post a comment in this post with the link
or on the FB post itself.
The contest will run from today until October 6th.
Winner will be announced no later than October 7th
rules and regulations for all contests can be found HERE.
You will get one extra entry if you LIKE our post
and another if you FOLLOW our blog!
God Bless You all and Have a GREAT week!
Inspirational Authors 