Everybody please help me welcome my friend and author Latessa Montgomery to the blog. I first met Latessa at the Georgia Romance Writers, Moonlight and Magnolia's Conference and we've been friends ever since. One of the benefits of being a part of RWA is the life long friendships that occur. And after RWA I feel like we need to carry on the inspiration and Latessa is just the person to do it.
My road to publication
When I decided to try my hand at writing a novel back in
2008, my Grand Master Publication Plan (GMPP) included the following:
1.
Write the next biggest thing to hit the
literary airwaves since Harry Potter within 5 sessions at the keyboard.
2.
Send said literary masterpiece to the
Big 6 and instantly start a 6 way bidding war.
3.
Receive my fantabulous book with a hot
cover full of awesomesauce.
4.
NY Best Seller status within one week
of release.
5.
Book tours and television appearances (Hi
Oprah and Dave Letterman).
In that order and within four months.
Did I mention, I was slightly delusional in 2008? J
In reality, my road to publication wasn’t nearly so short,
succinct, or roadblock free. During my initial delusion, erm… I planning, I
failed to take into account the abject lack of knowledge I had about crafting
and selling commercial fiction. I failed
to account for how my OCD and Anal Retentive tendencies would impact my
creative and productive process (**cough** spent six months writing a seven
page prologue **cough**). And I failed to account for just how tough it can be
to write with 3 little ones run around, and demanding things like being fed,
bathed, and otherwise cared for.
I took a couple of years and soaked up as much as I
could. I took online workshops, joined
several author groups and writing organizations, and attended conferences. During this time, I learned the craft of
writing and the importance of being disciplined. Then over the next few years ,I continued to
write my manuscripts (crappy drafts, storylines, and all), met a hosts of talented
writers of all walks, and most importantly I learned to respect my process and
gained confidence in my writing.
Five years later, after the utter failure of my GMPP, I’d
still not sold any full length novels, inspired no bidding wars, and still not heard
from Oprah or Dave. But, what I did have was exposure to the
ever-evolving publishing industry. And through
this exposure, an editor of an independent press saw a few pieces on my website
and invited to be a part of a short story anthology. I jumped at the opportunity and now I stand before
you (in the virtual sense) as a published author.
No, I didn’t arrive at this destination in the way I’d
planned, grand delusions and all, but I am here. La-Tessa Montgomery, author,
workshop facilitator, and 2013 Debut Author of the Year nominee. The moral of this story is:
A plan is necessary if you wish to attain a goal. However, said plan should actually be
obtainable and contain the least amount of delusion possible J
My debut release, “Found Rhythm”, is
now available in the short story collection Seven Dress Sizes. This
collection takes you into the lives of seven different modern women.
All struggling, in a full scope of shapes and sizes, to find the key to
unlocking self worth, acceptance of their personal beauty, and natural
confidence.
My story features Isa Taylor, a size 7 chef who struggles
with societal expectations that she’s the perfect size and shape, and her
cultural expectations that say she’s not.
Here’s a snippet:
Justin turned Isa so that she
faced the mirrors. “I’m a man, and let me just say… You are indeed sexy.”
He wiped the tears she didn’t even know were streaming down her cheeks. “What’s
not to find sexy? You’re a successful chef with her own restaurant.
You put yourself through culinary school, studied your ass off, and rose to the
top of your class. You won Rising Star Chef of the Year honors from the
James Beard Foundation.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know… But that’s
just it, I know I’m good at what I do, but that doesn’t make me sexy. So
what, I’m accomplished. The only thing that attracts is other cooks and
people after my money. I’m made up like a boy, I don’t have the all the curves
and junk in the trunk men like.”
“Sexy is in the eye of the
beholder, Isa. There is nothing you, or anyone, can do to change
that. If I say you’re sexy, and all the woman any man needs, then who are
you tell me I’m wrong. And until you realize that, Isa, you’ll never get
beyond the doubts and insecurities that stifle you.”
He ran the back of his finger down her cheek, drawing her attention back to her
reflection. “Look, a flawless complexion. You’ve got skin like
silk, perfect white teeth, and a smile that can make a man feel like
you’re his only reason for being… for breathing. And look at your body.”
He hands drew attention to her
hips and thighs. She fidgeted, not comfortable with this self-appraisal, especially
with Justin being the one leading the perusal. Fire spread from where he
touched her, going straight to her groin. “You have all the curves a man will
ever need. And if anyone says otherwise, they’re crazy and not worth your
time.”
His last words were whispered in
her ear. She turned, searched his eyes for the truth. It wasn’t
long before his full, soft lips claimed hers, silencing all thoughts but those
of the carnal nature. When he released her, they both pulled in a lungful of
much needed air.
“Damn,” she whispered.
“Damn is right,” he agreed.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about La-Tessa, she can be
found around the internet at the following:
Twitter: LaTessa25
6 comments:
ROFL I love your 4 month plan. I gave myself 2 years and I'm still plugging away :) Great post ladies! I need to pick up that book!
Dren, what can I say? Besides the fact that I was highly, HIGHLY delusional with those goals. But hey, at least I had a plan!
LOL!
Loved the post! Great plan, and look at ya now! I feel like singing that Cris Brown song... Look at me now... LOL Hugs darling and keep em coming!
Thanks Tigris! I learned a lot from the plan... Namely to create a new one-LOL!
And I most definitely will keep on plugging away. I have many, many more stories in me screaming to get out.
I enjoyed Found Rhythm--I'd never looked from the perspective of the person that size...
As for the plan...hmm, wonder if it was something in the water...although when I started writing it was to keep myself sane and to get all the movies in my head onto the page...getting published that does take time and oh man then the evil starts--editing!
I'm very proud that you stuck with the writing even though the GMPP didn't quite work.
Q
Q, I'm so glad you enjoyed Found Rhythm and was able to see the story through Isa's eyes. I knew I was taking a bit of a risk approaching her size from that angle, but I had to be true to me and to the story she wanted to tell.
Yes, I am a bit of a slave to my characters :-)
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