Amber Hart dropped by with a guest post and a giveaway to celebrate the release of Captured by You. Enjoy!
5 WAYS TO GET YOUR FICTION BOOK PUBLISHED
Stories need a lot of work to get to the publishing stage. Like, a whole lot. There’s an ocean of books out there and it’s hard to tell how, exactly, to become one of them. There’s not a “right” way, per say, but the general census boils down to these five things.
It’s super tempting to send your book off when it’s only partially done. I mean, you’ve achieved this monumental thing. You’ve written part of a book! That has to count for something, right? It does. Trust me. I’m with you. It’s lovely, but you still need to write the whole book before you send it off. Unless you are already published and/or are wildly popular in the business, agents and publishers like to know how the story started, progressed, and ended before they will sign you for the first time. It’s tough, but you’ll be glad you finished.
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EDIT
This step is so very important. Edit, edit, edit. Edit until you feel like it’s the most polished stone in the pond. Edit until you’re one million percent sure that the book is as good as it gets. Maybe, if you can afford it, even let a freelance editor rake through it. And then, celebrate! You’ve just finished a book, after all.
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LET TRUSTED PEOPLE BETA READ
There’s only so many times you can edit and read your own book before you become blind to the story and words. It’s important to have someone else, someone who is not in your own head, read it. They are looking at it with fresh eyes. They might be able to point out that you skipped too far ahead in one section, or that a part is dragging, or that a certain character needs more fleshing out. Beta readers can see bigger picture issues that you’ll want to correct before you send your baby novel off to an agent and/or publisher.
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WRITE A KILLER QUERY
How are you possibly going to hook an agent and/or publisher in one page? It’s the same question all authors have had, the one that keeps them up at night sweating bullets. It’s impossible, you say. Something-hundred pages can’t be contained in a simple paragraph, you say. It has to. And it all starts with a hook. Make the reader want to know more. Explore the books on your own shelves. Look at the back jackets. What drew you to them? What one-lines did they drop to snag your interest? Now, it’s your turn to create one of your own. Follow it up with a few sentences about your book. Don’t be afraid to infuse your voice in it. Actually, that can be the difference between getting signed or not.
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BE PREPARED FOR REJECTION
It’s a hard part of the business. Someone is bound to say no. All the greatest writers will tell you the same. But I think you should know that rejection can also be gold. Sometimes agents and publishers include reasons why the book wasn’t strong enough for them. Those reasons can be used to better your book. If you feel they might be dead on, fix the problem areas and then query more agents and/or publishers. The point is, rejection WILL happen. Don’t loose hope. Don’t give up. It only take one “yes.” Don’t quit before you get yours.
And, as always, be respectful. Thank that agent and/or publisher (by name) for taking time out of their day to read your words. Know that your time will come as long as you keep writing. There are many paths to cross to get to the finish. Find yours. Don’t forget that some books never get published. Write another one. Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing. Never stop.
Captured By You
Until You Find Me # 2
By: Amber Hart
Releasing May 19, 2015
Loveswept: Flirt
Blurb
In the passionate, gut-wrenching sequel to Amber Hart’s Until You Find Me, Raven and Jospin must fight for each other in a world where love is never safe—and power is deadly.
Raven, a college girl from Michigan, came to the jungles of Cameroon searching for closure. Falling for Jospin, a handsome, charismatic hunter with dark secrets of his own, was never part of the plan.
But despite their differences, their attraction is addictive, as exhilarating and wild as the rain forest itself—and also as dangerous. For the sake of both their lives, their heated affair must remain a secret.
Raven wants justice for her conservationist father’s death; to help her, Jospin must turn his back on his own father and the only life he has ever known. Together they risk being hunted by a band of ruthless poachers, but they take the chance anyway, working to bring down their enemies between each stolen kiss. But when one slip puts Raven’s life at stake, Jospin knows he must act.
He has captured Raven’s heart—now can he set her free
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/02/captured-by-you-until-you-find-me-2-by.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22675554-captured-by-you?from_search=true
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/132345-until-you-find-me
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo
Author Info
Amber Hart is the author of Before You and Until You Find Me. She grew up in Orlando, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia, and now resides on the Florida coastline with her family. When not reading, she can be found writing, daydreaming, or dipping her toes in the sand.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Rafflecopter Giveaway (Loveswept Mug, Flirt Mug and Select Ebook Bundle)
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