Erin MacPherson is a debut author represented by the ever-popular Rachelle Gardner. Erin lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and two (soon to be three!) children. Her new book "The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby" is released TODAY (March 1st)! Hot off the presses, it's available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Family Christian Stores, Books-a-Millian, and Christian Book Distributers.
Regarding my question, "What I wish I'd known before I signed a publishing contract..." Erin says:
That's easy: EVERYTHING.
I entered the whole publishing process completely naive about what to do, how to act and what to expect. It's a wonder my agent and editor didn't send me packing after five minutes--but they didn't. They patiently answered my questions, responded to emails, coached me a long and supported me as I learned and grew.
I think that's the thing that surprised me most about the publishing process: How nice and approachable everyone was. Before I started on this journey, I looked at the players in the publishing world as "untouchables"-- people with so much clout and influence that I couldn't dare approach them for anything. Instead, I found just the opposite. Every single person I encountered-- from my agent to my editor to the marketing director at my publishing house to be real, honest, open, supportive and kind people who truly wanted me to succeed. They feel like my teammates now.
I honestly expected to be dealing with a red-pen weilding editor who scrutinized every word I wrote, nit-picking every detail and slashing my work to pieces. Once I finished my manuscript, I was so terrified to start the editing process that it took me two days to press send and actually send it to my publisher. Then I spent four nervewracking weeks waiting for the red ink to flow. But it never did. I'm not saying my editor didn't make corrections in my book or have major changes for me-- she did-- but simply that the process was so much more positive than I expected. It was more like a team editing effort. She made suggestions. I made suggestions. And we worked together to make sure my book was the best that it could be.
So, the takeaway? Relax. And realize that your editor and agent and publisher want you to succeed. They are on your team. So work with them. And have fun while you're doing it.
If you want to hear more from Erin, check out her blog at http://www.christianmamasguide.com/ or pick up her book at any good bookstores!
Thanks for stopping by Erin, and best of luck with the release - your first book of many I'm sure.
That's easy: EVERYTHING.
I entered the whole publishing process completely naive about what to do, how to act and what to expect. It's a wonder my agent and editor didn't send me packing after five minutes--but they didn't. They patiently answered my questions, responded to emails, coached me a long and supported me as I learned and grew.
I think that's the thing that surprised me most about the publishing process: How nice and approachable everyone was. Before I started on this journey, I looked at the players in the publishing world as "untouchables"-- people with so much clout and influence that I couldn't dare approach them for anything. Instead, I found just the opposite. Every single person I encountered-- from my agent to my editor to the marketing director at my publishing house to be real, honest, open, supportive and kind people who truly wanted me to succeed. They feel like my teammates now.
I honestly expected to be dealing with a red-pen weilding editor who scrutinized every word I wrote, nit-picking every detail and slashing my work to pieces. Once I finished my manuscript, I was so terrified to start the editing process that it took me two days to press send and actually send it to my publisher. Then I spent four nervewracking weeks waiting for the red ink to flow. But it never did. I'm not saying my editor didn't make corrections in my book or have major changes for me-- she did-- but simply that the process was so much more positive than I expected. It was more like a team editing effort. She made suggestions. I made suggestions. And we worked together to make sure my book was the best that it could be.
So, the takeaway? Relax. And realize that your editor and agent and publisher want you to succeed. They are on your team. So work with them. And have fun while you're doing it.
If you want to hear more from Erin, check out her blog at http://www.christianmamasguide.com/ or pick up her book at any good bookstores!
Thanks for stopping by Erin, and best of luck with the release - your first book of many I'm sure.
Great interview and I LOVE the cover of the book. How cute is that :)
ReplyDeleteThe cover for that book is awesomesauce.
ReplyDeleteIt is a cute cover.
ReplyDeleteYes, the cover is adorable.
ReplyDeleteErin's obviously done an amazing job - the book is getting some great reviews on Amazon already. (Check out the link from the book's title in the first paragraph).
Awesome interview! I'm glad the experience was a positive one for you!
ReplyDeleteHehe, cool interview! I'm still waiting for the right idea, but when I go into querying, I'll have to remember that everyone is out there to only help me. :D
ReplyDeleteI have been there just as you using a mountain of bills and never enough money in my checking account to spend every one of them payday loans but more than just enjoying lower rates and having
ReplyDeleteeasy approval from lenders, your individual credit ranking plays an
essential role in getting an employment.
Does the exact property be entitled to the USDA Rural Housing
ReplyDeleteGuaranteed Loan quick loans when the
county tax assessor looks in the value with the house, it
is known because the assessed value of the property.
Bunun doal olarak sitemdeki anahtarr kelimelerin deerinin dk olmasndan karynaklandn dnyordum
ReplyDeleteshort term loans however, more not this light is surely an illusion--a flickering, energy inefficient strobe that
fades before it fully illuminates, leaving the borrower in a darker place than
where he started.
My website - short term loans
Here is really a brief overview with the program, the actual way
ReplyDeleteit works, and who is eligible ppaydayloanss2013.co.uk i referred to as the financial aid department and spoke with lady a.
Getting a credit card can be quite a hassle
ReplyDeletein over one way if you've had bad history in the past paydayuk the only drawback to this type of loan is that if you become delayed in your payments, the financial institution can re-possess your automobile.
The finance company, belonging to Barclays Bank, is cutting 300 jobs following a conclusion not to undertake any customers pay day loans finding the very best interest levels
ReplyDeletemay be the difference between repayments being affordable rather
than.
My webpage - pay day loans
As the bucks is transferred to your checking account knowning
ReplyDeletethat will be the only way you could access the cash, you need
to do need to give you a checking account number or bank-account number
for deposit only payday loans now a lot of these are taking steps
when applying to have an online car loan to have the one which lets them pay for
any car to get more than the typical three to 5yrs.
The SFS s provide finance mainly to smaller than
ReplyDeleteaverage medium enterprises, whereas SIDC s cater to the needs of medium assistance, the
SFC s and SIDC s also play a promotional and developmental role pay day loan online these findings drive home the idea that
pre-hospital standards of trauma care need to be raised by several notches if
the 'golden hour' is always to have meaning across bangladesh.