Leaning on Amazon Best Seller's list
The first inkling of this novel came in college. An idea sparked. I wrote a short story or two and filed them away.
Later I dug the stories out and read. And re-read. I wrote a bit. And read. And reread.
In 2009 I encountered a professional crisis which created discontent and significant introspection. I started meeting with two close friends weekly. We began as a life and creativity coaching group led by Jennifer Slayden but evolved into a writing support group. The Zenjens are Jennifer Slayden, who is a musician, blogger, life coach, and creativity coach, and Jennifer Shryock, owner and operator of Rainmaker Resumes, copywriter, blogger, ghost blogger, and editor.
We all write, very different genres, but we all write. They created for me a safe place to admit my need to write a novel. They read and encouraged each week. They provided thoughtful responses and suggestions. They honored my process and I would never have begun or completed this project without them. I posted many chapters for free. To read them, check out my blog. To purchase your own copy of Leaning, click here.
Later I dug the stories out and read. And re-read. I wrote a bit. And read. And reread.
In 2009 I encountered a professional crisis which created discontent and significant introspection. I started meeting with two close friends weekly. We began as a life and creativity coaching group led by Jennifer Slayden but evolved into a writing support group. The Zenjens are Jennifer Slayden, who is a musician, blogger, life coach, and creativity coach, and Jennifer Shryock, owner and operator of Rainmaker Resumes, copywriter, blogger, ghost blogger, and editor.
We all write, very different genres, but we all write. They created for me a safe place to admit my need to write a novel. They read and encouraged each week. They provided thoughtful responses and suggestions. They honored my process and I would never have begun or completed this project without them. I posted many chapters for free. To read them, check out my blog. To purchase your own copy of Leaning, click here.
Cover Art
I reconnected with a friend from high school named, you guessed it, Jennifer. Jennifer Nelson Golan now works as a graphic artist and designer. We met at the Carousel and Dragon Hollow in Missoula one day. As we watched our children play, Jen described a project she completed, a cook book. It occurred to me that I could make my book a truly Montana experience.
Jennifer Shryock encouraged me to self publish but I was reluctant. Within a couple of months after seeing Jennifer Golan, I submitted a number of queries to Literary Agents. I am not a patient woman--shocker, I know. I sent off about ten unsuccessful queries. From what I hear, that is a mere fraction of what it actually takes to gain a literary agent.
I subscribe to Seth Godin's RSS feed. I clicked on his post in my in box, right after reading my latest rejection letter, and read the following:
Amanda Hocking is making a million dollars a year publishing her own work to the Kindle. No publisher.
Rebecca Black has reached more than 15,000,000 listeners, like it or not, without a record label.
Are we better off without gatekeepers? Well, it was gatekeepers that brought us the unforgettable lyrics of Terry Jacks in 1974, and it's gatekeepers that are spending a fortune bringing out pop songs and books that don't sell.
I'm not sure that this is even the right question. Whether or not we're better off, the fact is that the gatekeepers--the pickers--are reeling, losing power and fading away. What are you going to do about it?
It's a cultural instinct to wait to get picked. To seek out the permission and authority that comes from a publisher or talk show host or even a blogger saying, "I pick you." Once you reject that impulse and realize that no one is going to select you--that Prince Charming has chosen another house--then you can actually get to work.
If you're hoping that the HR people you sent your resume to are about to pick you, it's going to be a long wait. Once you understand that there are problems just waiting to be solved, once you realize that you have all the tools and all the permission you need, then opportunities to contribute abound.
No one is going to pick you. Pick yourself.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/
So I picked myself. I stopped querying and started planning. Jennifer Golan created my cover. She did a wonderful, professional, and creative job. I gave her some ideas and then she brought some of her own. She made the process easy and was a delight to work with.
Jennifer Shryock encouraged me to self publish but I was reluctant. Within a couple of months after seeing Jennifer Golan, I submitted a number of queries to Literary Agents. I am not a patient woman--shocker, I know. I sent off about ten unsuccessful queries. From what I hear, that is a mere fraction of what it actually takes to gain a literary agent.
I subscribe to Seth Godin's RSS feed. I clicked on his post in my in box, right after reading my latest rejection letter, and read the following:
Amanda Hocking is making a million dollars a year publishing her own work to the Kindle. No publisher.
Rebecca Black has reached more than 15,000,000 listeners, like it or not, without a record label.
Are we better off without gatekeepers? Well, it was gatekeepers that brought us the unforgettable lyrics of Terry Jacks in 1974, and it's gatekeepers that are spending a fortune bringing out pop songs and books that don't sell.
I'm not sure that this is even the right question. Whether or not we're better off, the fact is that the gatekeepers--the pickers--are reeling, losing power and fading away. What are you going to do about it?
It's a cultural instinct to wait to get picked. To seek out the permission and authority that comes from a publisher or talk show host or even a blogger saying, "I pick you." Once you reject that impulse and realize that no one is going to select you--that Prince Charming has chosen another house--then you can actually get to work.
If you're hoping that the HR people you sent your resume to are about to pick you, it's going to be a long wait. Once you understand that there are problems just waiting to be solved, once you realize that you have all the tools and all the permission you need, then opportunities to contribute abound.
No one is going to pick you. Pick yourself.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/
So I picked myself. I stopped querying and started planning. Jennifer Golan created my cover. She did a wonderful, professional, and creative job. I gave her some ideas and then she brought some of her own. She made the process easy and was a delight to work with.
Editing
It turns out, editing is not my favorite process. Thank God I didn't have to do it alone! Jennifer Slayden and Jennifer Shryock were my first editors. They did a spectacular job, but they are also my best friends. I decided I needed an unbiased review. So I called...Shellie Nelson. Ha! You thought I was going to say Jennifer--alas I do actually know some very talented people who are not named Jennifer.
I had to wait to call Shellie. Shellie is an online editor by trade and a personal friend. The thing I like the most about Shellie, or one thing anyway, is that she tells it like it is. I had no doubt that Shellie would tell me if she thought my novel was a pile of crap. It took some time to prepare myself for that type of honesty. When I was ready I called and Shellie's response bolstered my confidence. She emailed me, "Jenna you have written and incredibly good book. You owe me a nights sleep!" That's high praise.
Purchase a copy Leaning here!
Buy Leaning for your e-reader or Kindle here!
I had to wait to call Shellie. Shellie is an online editor by trade and a personal friend. The thing I like the most about Shellie, or one thing anyway, is that she tells it like it is. I had no doubt that Shellie would tell me if she thought my novel was a pile of crap. It took some time to prepare myself for that type of honesty. When I was ready I called and Shellie's response bolstered my confidence. She emailed me, "Jenna you have written and incredibly good book. You owe me a nights sleep!" That's high praise.
Purchase a copy Leaning here!
Buy Leaning for your e-reader or Kindle here!