Target – in more ways than one
By Judith Rochelle
I remember the very day I sat down to write my first book. It was almost five years ago and I was so green moss was dripping from my fingers. What did I know? I was a voracious reader and was convinced I had the formula locked in my brain and only had to spit it out. I thought, I’ll write a book, send it off to a publisher, and five minutes later I’ll be famous.
Yeah, right!
Over the course of the next year, as I continued to write and learn from my critique group just how little I knew, I collected thirty-seven rejections for that first book, Run For Your Life. And looking back on it now, I have to admit it was totally godawful. I mean, bad doesn’t begin to describe it.
I came down from my naïve cloud with a big fat thud! Good thing I had a lot of padding to land on.
But some things you just can’t let go of. Over the next four years I continued to write, to finally sell—a moment here for a bug Hurray! And showers of confetti—and learn from some terrific editors. And each time I pulled out that first book, cried over it, then tore it apart and began yet another rewrite. I learned in this business you have to have a hide like an elephant and be willing to soak up good criticism like a sponge.
Target by Judith Rochelle
But I had a goal. A target! I was determined to whip that book into shape and get it sold. And now, nearly five years later, renamed Target, the book will be released by The Wild Rose Press as Book One in a series called The Protectors. It’s been a very long journey but it was definitely worth it, and I think I learned more along the way than all the years I spent in school.
A bit about the book . . .
She didn’t know why her late father’s partner wanted to kill her or who the man was he was planning with. Only luck put her in place to overhear the conversation. But the threat was enough to send Kathryn Holt on a frantic flight, taking with her a flash drive that held the secrets of his business. With a big target painted on her back, mediocre, easily led Kathryn Holt became feisty and inventive Kate Griffin. But even Kate reached her limit the night her junker car broke down in the middle of Texas until Quinn, a mysterious dark knight with secrets of his own, appeared out of the night. Soon scorching sex was neutralizing the intense fear she’d been living with and Quinn was ready to slay her dragons. But two shootings and two brushes with death nearly cost Kate her life and almost destroyed Quinn, bringing back memories he thought he’d finally buried. With the bad guys finally out of commission, will Kate and Quinn be able to salvage the passion that still smolders between them?
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey there Judith!!!
With all the books you have under your belt now – as Judith, Desiree and Emily – I can’t believe it was only FIVE years ago you sat down and started writing!
That’s incredible!!!
You amaze me – keep it up and have a great day!
DeNita
AuthorIsland.com
Target sounds great – when is it hitting the shelves?
Hi, Judith!
Great blog!
I wrote my first ms around 2000 when I recieved my first computer. I sold my second to Wild Rose Press last year. It will be released this July. I’ve just about finished the second in the series and have started the third. The first ms? I’m going to rework it as well. No rest for the wicked!
Anyway, your book, Target, sounds great. Love the cover! Good luck with the sales!
Judith,
you continue to inspire me. Congratulations on seeing this project through to publication. Like all your books, it’s on my auto buy list. :)
KyAnn
“Target” sounds fabulous! I’m so glad you kept coming back to it so the rest of us will have a chance to read it. My first manuscript (not counting those embarrassing high school ones!) turned out to be the first book I sold to Wild Rose. I wrote others after that, but like you kept coming back to that one and decided that was the one I wanted to get out there first. I was lucky enough to have it happen.
Hi, Judith!
Love the cover! I also think the book sounds simply delicious!
I enjoy reading about journeys to publication and this is an inspiring one. Most authors (or aspiring authors ;-)) like to think how easy it is to write a book at first…then the rude awakening happens, right?
The day I decided to turn my idea into a publishable book was a day that I realized it takes more discipline to get your seat in the chair than you might think.
Hi Judith,
I love reading stories like this. I’m glad you stuck it out and that baby is finally being birthed. :)
The cover is very eye catching.
I’m glad you’re getting that first book published! The cover is great. My first one will never see the light of day unless I get inspired enough to edit it. I started it when I was twelve and finished it at seventeen right before I joined my critique group. I’ve learned more from them than I learned in school so my second story is actually going to be published. Maybe some day I’ll go back to that first one, but I don’t really have to if I don’t want to. I’ve got plenty of other ideas.
Thank you all for you great, grat comments. Seeing this book to publication was like giving birth to a child that didn’t want to enter the world, but when it got here it was worth every effort. Target will be out later in 2009 and I will post the release date as soon as I know it. Thanks again fior visiting me here and commenting.