Tattered Pages Welcomes Author Lilly Gayle!

Lilly, I can't tell you what a thrill it is for me to have you as my guest! For all the blog readers out there, hang onto your hats! Lilly has been tearing up the historical romance genre with some fantastic releases!

Thanks for having me on your blog today and letting me talk about writing and my new release. Actually, I’m about to have another new release. Wholesale Husband, an American Rose historical from The Wild Rose Press  is set to release 9/28/11 but it’s already listed as an upcoming release on TWRP’s website. http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4631

In June, Slightly Tarnished my English Rose historical from The Wild Rose Press was released.  http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_138&products_id=4516  So, it’s been a great summer. I’m just a bit overwhelmed trying to promote two books within such a short timeframe. But I really shouldn’t complain. This dream was a long time coming!

I first wanted to write back in junior high, but life soon got in the way and I forgot about my dream. Or, so I had thought. But after my children were born, I started thinking about my writing dreams to the point that my husband bought a computer and told me to stop dreaming and start writing.  

I tried writing children’s stories for a while since my daughters were three and five at the time. But I didn’t have the knack for it. Then I tried my at writing “what I know.” And I knew about radiology since I’m a technologist. But my medical romantic suspense read like a radiology text book with sex scenes. Lol! It will NEVER see the light of day. Even if I wanted to revise it, I couldn’t. It was written in Lotus Works and saved on a 5 ½ inch flexible floppy disc! Does anyone even remember those?

Years passed. I raised my children, joined RWA and my local chapter. And I continued to write in my spare time.  I also started submitting. And getting rejected. I went through three agents. Two were not legit the other just didn’t work out. And finally, thirteen years later, The Wild Rose Press contracted my first novel, Out of the Darkness, a paranormal vampire romance. It was published the next year and is still available at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=89_129&products_id=4039

Slightly Tarnished was actually my third manuscript. It once had an agent but after an ungodly number of rejections and gentle recommendations from some very kind editors, I revised and resubmitted. And TWRP published it.

Writing isn’t always fun, but if it’s something you love or feel compelled to do, then don’t give up. Keep writing. Learn the craft. Take writing courses. And hang out with other writers. It’s the best way to learn.

Just remember, despite the many new e-publishers, self-publishing groups, and tried and true traditional publishers, a book must still meet industry standards or it will never sell. And before a book can sell, someone has to publish it.

Computers, “snail” mail, and email submission make it easier than ever for a writer to submit multiple manuscripts to agents and editors, which increases the number of manuscripts in the slush piles.  So, each manuscript must be memorable. A writer needs a high concept, unique twist, or memorable characters to make his/her story stand out from the crowd. But more than anything, a writer needs a dream and the endurance and tenacity to see that dream through.

If you’re a struggling writer, don’t give up on your dream. If you are a reader and you love or recommend a book, kindly write a review. It means so much to an author.  But if you don’t like a book, please don’t trash it.  Remember what your mother told you? If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all? And remember, reading is subjective. Simply say, not my cup of tea or I prefer happy endings and move on.

You can check out book trailers for my three releases on my website. http://lillygayle.com

I also have a blog. Stop by and visit sometimes! http://lillygayleromance.blogspot.com