Kristy Abbott's Blog

Writers Say So Note: Author and golf pro Ann Loughlin has enjoyed a long career of setting goals and achieving them.  She has graciously agreed to share her formula for writing success, which happens to be great advice for succeeding in life, as well.

Writing a book can be a daunting task. Many people say they want to write a book, but few actually sit down and hammer out the words, sentences and paragraphs that comprise the pages that become a book. I have written two books, am working on a third, and have compiled a collection of stories in book form.

The reasons I have undertaken these projects are varied and I have learned a lot along the way, as all of these books are self-published. My best advice is this: 1. If you get in a bind or become confused at all during the book writing process, go back to your early vision. This will help you clarify. 2. Let some time pass. This is where the miracles happen.

These two principles have been mainstays for me throughout my projects, The Golf Letters and Signs of Their Times, Iowa Hometown Slogans, Photos and Stories. So, stay with your early vision and let some time pass. These are simple thoughts, but powerful. I learned so much from adhering to these two principles.

It is important that the original vision be true and clear, as well. That way, one can return to the vision in the writing when there is a bump in the road. Truth and clarity will aid and abet the writer in getting back on the right path. Problems that seemed insurmountable earlier will dissolve.

Use your intuition in writing. Pay attention. Are you straying? Or, are you keeping things fine-tuned and working towards your original plan? Letting time pass, for me, personally and professionally, is quite an elixir. Being both a writer and a golf professional, I have found that “the pause” contains so much. Society today rushes us. Solutions have to be immediate and must come quickly. We are not used to waiting.

Writing and waiting and writing and waiting seemed to empower my words in a way that wouldn’t have manifested had I rushed through the endeavor. Sometimes, with a pause, different insights occur and the Universe has a way of presenting solutions, thoughts and new paths that were not evident before.

Writing takes time. One must enjoy the process for its own rewards, as well. I find this to be very true. Be sure you write for writing’s sake alone. The writing will be the best you can offer if you do this. The monetary rewards may come or not come, but at least you are writing.

Enjoy the process! Keep the vision! Wait!

Ann Loughlin is a LPGA/PGA golf professional and author of The Golf Letters & Signs of Their Times, Iowa Hometown Slogans Photos

 

Don’t tell anyone but I’m playing hooky right now.

I should be creatively crafting social media messaging for a client but my untended blog has been tapping at my shoulder and so I’ve given in to writing a post I should have done a week (or so) ago.

I know I’m not alone when it comes to carving out time and discipline for my writing. Although my personal writing isn’t far from my profession of freelance writer in terms of skill, it is really different in the sense that my intimate words communicate my chosen story, through my voice.

Well that should motivate me to spend time writing every day, right? Well….

When I find myself veering off path of my established goals I need to go back to the basics of finding the time – and will – to write. Here are a few tips that have worked for me and might help you, too:

1. Put it on your calendar. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning I make a commitment to be in one of my favorite places, my friend Mary Beth Hammerlund’s dance aerobics class. Look, I don’t profess to be any type of dancer but the energy, enthusiasm and camaraderie in MB’s class lifts me and feeds my spirit.

Just like writing does.

So it makes sense that I set aside those precious mornings for dancing and that I do the same for writing. You can, too. What works best? Morning? Quiet afternoons? Before bed? Choose the time when you are most connected to the inner voice who wants to be heard and then schedule a regular time to listen.

2. Create the perfect space. Maybe it’s your kitchen table or your study. For me coffee shops and libraries are great spaces to focus only on the writing. Getting out of the house is key for me because I tend to do any chore in the world (including polishing the silver) to avoid struggling through creatively-sapped moments.

To that end, I joined a collaborative workspace called The Commons, in Excelsior, Minnesota. It’s literally just steps away from my door but its far enough away from real life that I can relax and tune in to the characters in my head. Check your community for a workspace that might work for you.

3. Use music to call forth your inner writer. This is a big one for me. Just like having a playlist for working out, I have a collection of songs that soothe me and ignite my deep down desire to tell stories. Right now I’m listening to “Daylight” by Coldplay.

I’ve heard about studies done on workers’ production when listening to various forms of music. Researchers found that the rhythm and musical key had a slight effect on productivity. Whatever the reason, we’ve found that music does have an influence on setting a mood – just think of all those soundtrack scores that help us see the stories in our favorite movies!

4. Read writers that inspire you. My new favorite book is Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This novel made such an impact that as soon as I was done I wanted to start reading it again. While you might not find many books that motivate you similarly, I bet there are some stories or writers who use language in a way that resonates with you that can be powerful writing boosters to the voice inside you. At the very least, you should always be reading something – to keep your imagination healthy.

If you have that desire to share your unique experiences or your take on the world through writing, then listen to the urging inside of you and give that person a voice.

You might become the ultra-disciplined writer who sets aside an hour a day. You might end up only writing a few hours a month. Whatever your schedule I urge you to follow the nudge to write. You won’t regret it!

Write On!

Do you have a proven successful strategy for committing to writing in your life? Give us your suggestions here and we’ll share them.

Thumb up hand with like text on button. Isolated on white.

Congrats, Author!

You’ve gone and got yourself published.  No doubt you had a party, invited friends, celebrated with balloons and patted yourself on the back.

Now the real fun begins.

It’s time to promote your newly published baby in 21st Century style – and that means using social media – starting with Facebook.

However, if you are like many authors, you’ve never ventured into the world of Facebook, or at the very most, you use this social media channel to merely share your favorite pet photos.

For those authors needing a primer on promotion via Facebook, check out these tips:

Get Started!  Understand that to have success you need to use social channels to get your word out.  Check out this info page for Facebook to get started.  If you already have a personal Facebook page, add a public page to create a brand name for yourself.  Here’s an example of my Kristy Abbott Author page.


Get Friendly!  Invite your friends to Like you.  This means they are connecting to your author page and are interested in following the content you post.  Your page will show up on their Timeline and your posts will appear in their news feed.


Get Writing!  Now is the time to share milestones, events, photos and videos and any other special information that you find interesting.


Get Sharing!  Have you found a wonderful article about writing that you’d like others to see?  Post it on your page.  If you aren’t sure how to locate such content, try this content curation tool to help you find just what you are looking for.


Get Linking!  Your Facebook page is a channel for others to find you.  Ultimately, you want them to travel to your website and learn more, contact you and buy your book.   Include regular links to your website and blog to keep connected and don’t forget to link to other sites that carry your book – such as your publisher and Amazon.


Get Creative!  One of the best ways to engage with people is to invite them to share their experiences.  As the number one brand on Facebook, Coca Cola uses their page to tell the Coke story.  It’s working – the page has 78 million Likes and more importantly over 1 million people talking about their product.


Get Generous!  Giveaways are great ways to grab attention and celebrate milestones.  For example, I am going to hold a drawing when I get to 500 Likes to give away free copies of my books, The Ghosted Bridge and Finding Home.  You can find other great giveaway ideas in this article from Creative Onion.

Facebook is an important part of using social media to draw new people to your brand.  Give them interesting, compelling and helpful information and you’ll see more Likes and Shares and you’ll get folks talking about you!

Get Going!

Have you had some great success with Facebook?  Or do you have more questions? Share your experiences here!

Entering the world of writing can be a bit daunting. I’ve met dozens of people who say, “I wish I could write a novel.”  ”I’ve always wanted to write.”  ”I could never write a book.”

My answer — you can, why don’t you and you should!

 

If you’re one of those folks who fancy themselves a writer but are put off by the writing barrier, here are 6 tips to get you moving on the path you were most likely born to tread:

Everyone Has A Story — Find Yours — My USC Masters thesis advisor S.I. Stebel is a genius at helping people find stories, clarify plots, understand characters and get organized.  His book, Double Your Creative Power, is a really helpful handbook on getting your creative process started.  In short he suggests keeping a journal by your bed and writing in it every morning for a few minutes before you get up.

Put everything that comes to mind on the pages but don’t read (or edit) those words for a week.  After 7 days, you can browse your notes and look for words, phrases or concepts that leap out at you.  Your subconscious will love this tool for bringing a host of ideas and solutions to the front of your mind.

Give Yourself Some Encouragement — When I was struggling to stay motivated during the writing of my novel, The Ghosted Bridge, I would often go into a library or bookstore to re-energize my passion and belief in myself.  Whether visiting an independent bookstore such as Magers & Quinn in Minneapolis or your local library branch, take a moment to appreciate all those writers that came before you.

I’m pretty sure that 99% of them had doubts along the way, just like you and I.  But they prevailed and so can you.

Take A Class – So you say you don’t know what a dramatic arc is and have no idea how to outline a plot?  A writing class may be your perfect answer.  For writers here in the Twin Cities, we’ve got an invaluable resource in The Loft Literary Center.  Here you can find any number of classes for beginning to advanced writers.

If you’re not lucky enough to have access to The Loft, check your local college or university extension catalogs.  You’re bound to find a class that will take your writing to the next level.

Invite A Writer To Your Book Club — Have you ever wondered how your favorite writer came up with the theme, characters or plot for their book?  Interested in exploring how writing can fall into a daily routine?  You can learn these details and more when you invite the author of your next selection to your book club meeting.

Understanding the  background behind stories can get your own creative juices flowing, as well.

Form A Writer’s Group — My bet is you’ve got one or two pals who have also tossed around the writing idea.  Get together for regular sessions where you encourage, share and give feedback.  Remember, finding like-minded people can give you the shot of courage to start your writing career.  It can also help you stay accountable to your goal.

Follow Your Favorite Writer — Chances are your favorite writer has a Facebook page, Twitter account or regular blog.  If you want to get in the mind of a writer, spend some time following them.  You’ll get a sense of what inspires them and if  you want to write in the same genre, you’ll probably glean valuable information on what made them successful.

You’ll even have chances to comment, ask questions and tell them how much you like their writing — and that is something every writer, from James Patterson to JK Rowling to that budding local author you know really appreciates.

So carve out some time for yourself, create a playlist of your favorite tunes and give yourself the opportunity to create.  You’ll likely discover that you do have a life’s theme you want to share, you have a story that needs to be told and you’ve really got the gumption to put it all together.

Give it a try.  And then share your experience here.  We’re rooting for you!

What goes into a blog post? Helpful, industry-specific content that: 1) gives readers a useful takeaway, and 2) shows you’re an industry expert.

Use your company’s blog posts to opine on current industry topics, humanize your company, and show how your products and services can help people.

“If you knew you wouldn’t fail, what would you do?”

Great question, isn’t it?  For me the answer was to write a novel and get it published.  I always hoped such  a thing would happen but putting the pedal to the metal of creating a story and getting someone to publish it was a daunting task.  Still, I gave it a whirl in 2008 and in 2013 The Ghosted Bridge was published.

The process has been less of a straight shot and more like a windy road with lots of fits and starts.  I wrote the book, put it on the back burner (actually in the recesses of a drawer at the urging of a sage friend and mentor, Sid Stebel), brought it out and tried again.  I sent the manuscript to more agents and publishers than I care to remember.  But all that good stuff came to fruition when North Star Press took a chance on me.

I realized in the process of writing and marketing The Ghosted Bridge and my second book, Finding Home, that there is a huge world of tips and resources for people to become writers, tell their stories and get them sold.  I’ve discovered a treasure trove along the way and so this blog is filled with ideas and advice to help the writer in everyone.

I don’t believe we ever achieve anything great on our own so if you’re inclined, answer that question above and insert your own dream. Fill in the blank with that project or goal that you’ve hesitated to go after until now, and share your experiences with us as you charge forward.

Kristy Abbott

Have you wondered what the next great chapter of your life will be?  Are you stuck in day-to-day details unable to see how you can climb that mountain to achieve your special goals?

The last few years have offered a plethora of challenges and life learning moments for me. Many of them have been super uncomfortable but all combined to bring me to a jumping off point. I managed to get the courage to go back after over 20 years to finish my Master’s degree in Professional Writing, start a new career as an online content writer and write two books.

And you are no different from me.  You can move forward, right now, too.

Whether it’s getting the gumption to begin writing the story that’s been hanging around your head for years or mustering up the motivation to pursue a new career path or even just setting your mind to pointing your life in a new direction, you can get yourself in move-mode by following these 6 easy tips:

Remember That The Best Way To Predict The Future Is To Invent It.

Allow yourself to focus on your most unimaginable dreams.  Let the beauty of those possibilities hover over every minute of your day.  I used to do this by walking into my local bookstores like Barnes & Noble and imagining my book on the shelves.  Now it is!

What crazy, far-fetched idea would you like to become reality? Give yourself permission to dream and find ways to encourage yourself.

Ask Yourself If You Knew You COULDN’T Fail What Would You Do?

Relinquishing doubt by believing you CAN’T fail can be the prod you need to move forward.  I applied this principle when I started entertaining the possibility of finishing my graduate degree even though it had been more than 20 years since my last class!  I visited the University of Southern California Master of Professional Writing website constantly and reminded myself I had done this before.

Allow yourself to imagine your biggest goals, convinced that they will actually happen. Your mindset has more to do with accomplishing those objectives than anything else.

Find A Support Group And Use It!

To be honest, I was so afraid of being rejected when I thought of re-applying to USC that I actually asked a friend to come over and hold my hand when I made the initial call.  I also lined up friends to hold me accountable for the goals I set for myself.

Who do you have in your life that can motivate you and reinforce your goals?  Make a pact with them that you’ll support them on their journey as they encourage you on yours.

Prepare Yourself For A Journey You Can’t Plan.

If someone had told me in 2009 that just five years later I would have my Masters, I would be a working freelance online content writer and I would be a published author with two books I wouldn’t have believed it.  And yet, through taking one step at a time through various twists and turns that scenario evolved into a bucket list reality.

No journey turns out exactly the way we envision it. But keeping in mind that goals are just dreams with deadlines, you can keep your eye on the final prize no matter what the road looks like.

Practice The Habit Of Remaining Steadfast.

Whether it’s getting fit, finding a new job, or completing that project that’s never been finished, a steadfast commitment to achievable objectives changes a daunting big picture into a workable result.  When I struggled to stay on track with my writing, I challenged myself to write at least one page a day and at the end of the week I would allow myself a treat when I had more than seven pages.

Steadfast discipline is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. The process of staying true to your goals is one that will continually lift your spirits and keep you focused.

Be Thankful For The Voyage.

When difficult times come into our lives we can often focus on the overwhelming circumstances of the present.  But life is a constantly flowing river, a series of changing seasons – which lends all sorts of possibilities.  Truly, if I hadn’t gone through such difficult times in the last few years I would NEVER have achieved the goals that are now in my rear view mirror.

Start every day with a thankful attitude, not just for what has happened up to this point but for the unseen things that will occur to make your life a uniquely incredible experience.

No matter your background, economic situation, education or geographic location, you can achieve just about anything you put your mind to.  The question now is — what will you dream up?

Start on your new chapter today by sharing your goal or dream here — the sooner you make it real, the closer you’ll be to realizing it.

Note:  My cool writer pal Catherine Holm invited me to become part of a wonderful writer’s project.  The Writing Process Blog Tour was created by writers across the country hoping to encourage other writers and introduce their own readers to new authors.

The result — a creative tapestry of writers across all genres and geographies.  Each participant answers four questions on the writing process and then passes the baton to two of their writing friends.  It’s a fascinating look into how writers of all types approach this magical craft.

My two pals are Angie Bailey, a popular, author, blogger, humorist and cat writer, and Colin Nelson, a mystery writer who calls upon 30 years of experience as a prosecutor and Public Defender.

I’m thrilled to be part of this effort to bring writers and audiences together.  Happy Reading!

What Are You Working On?

I’m currently neck-deep in marketing two books of completely different genres – my novel, The Ghosted Bridge, a paranormal mystery set against the backdrop of Minnesota’s I35W Bridge collapse in 2007, and Finding Home, a children’s picture book about a homeless cat searching for a name and a forever family.

At the same time, I’ve got a profound story knocking about in my head that centers around Minnesota’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.  The story follows a woman who has been devastated by a huge loss.  Her move to a broken down horse farm may be just what she needs to learn how to live again.

How Does Your Work Differ From Others In Your Genre?

No matter which genre, adult fiction or children’s books, I draw a great deal from reality.  Even when based in a fictional world, many of my characters are actually real people and creatures.

Why Do You Write What You Do?

I write for a variety of reasons — I’m compelled by stories with powerful themes; I love to explore interesting characters; I am always interested in ways to inspire readers to step out of their comfort zones and follow their passions.

How Does Your Writing Process Work?

I usually spend time with my characters in my mind, learning about their lives, their backgrounds, their idiosincracies, their goals, dreams and fears.  Then I mull over the plot and work out how the story will communicate the certain theme that keeps drumming in my head.

Once I know the characters well I sit down to write and let them have their way with the story.  I close my eyes and let them interact and work their ways through the plot.  I never edit during this stage because I want to stay out of the story’s way.

Finally when I have a rough draft, I allow my inner editing policewoman in on the job and let her clean up the piece.  Once she’s done, I re-read the draft, fix story problems, ask specific character questions and hopefully refine the story more and more.

This usually takes a few months and I try to be patient with the process.  Hopefully, I end up with a story that shares the theme that created it in the first place, brings characters to the reader who are captivating, and delivers a plot that keeps the audience from wanting to put down the book!

Now, please meet my writer buddies, Angie Bailey and Colin Nelson.  While they have disparate styles, they share immense talent and accomplishment!

Angie Bailey is a Minnesota author, blogger, humorist, and professional member of the Cat Writers’ Association. She’s the author of whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds and Catladyland, which won the Best Humor Blog in the 2013 BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Pet Blogging & Social Media Awards and Funniest Pet Blog in the 2011 Petties Awards.

She is a regular columnist for Catster.com, the creator of Texts from Mittens, and half of the comedy web series production team of 82 South St. Productions, LLC. You can follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angiebaileywriter , Twitter: https://twitter.com/ABaileyWriter . Her site is www.angie-bailey.com.

Colin Nelson has worked for over thirty years as a prosecutor and Public Defender.  He found that his friends loved the stories he brought back from the courtrooms.  That triggered a desire to write about the characters he worked with and to put them in mystery/suspense stories.  He also loves to educate readers so he does a ton of research while writing, not only to get the details right but also to share some really interesting stuff.

He also plays saxophone in a jazz group called Blue Mood.  He has published three novels, Reprisal, Fallout, and Flashover which feature a young prosecutor trying to win her difficult murder cases but, in the meantime, she gets entangled in dangerous plots that threaten in unexpected ways. Visit Colin at http://www.colintnelson.com/.

 

 

 

Note — In light of recent events at my house where my cat, Simon, the star of our children’s book, Finding Home, beheaded a sweet baby bunny and left it out for all to admire, I was reminded of a day years ago when another pet committed a similar but far worse animal crime.

Everyday life brings with it so many story ideas.  The challenge for us writers is to recognize these gifts and bring them to narrative life.  If you’ve got a moment that made for a great story, we’d be happy to share it here.  Enjoy!

Like most people, I’ve had a lot of stressful days — some more panic-invoking than others.

Of course, as you go through life, you realize that the memories of such traumatic events fade with time. I can say that’s true for nearly every experience but one – the day my dog killed the Easter bunny.

It was the Thursday before Easter, 1998. My two boys, Christopher and Dillon, had just come home from school. While I made them a snack, they unloaded their backpacks to begin homework. At that moment, I got a phone call from my next door neighbor.

Looking back now, I should never have answered it.

“Kristy, its Linda.”

“Hey girl, what’s up?” I juggled the phone with one hand, stirring a pan of macaroni and cheese with the other.

“We’ve got a new surprise over here. Kids home? You guys have gotta come see it!”

“A surprise?” Instantly the pair of blonde heads in my kitchen jerked up and two faces eyed me with excitement. So much for homework. I sighed.

“Great,” I offered. “We can’t stay long.” One long look at the boys promised them I wasn’t kidding. “But we’ll hop over in a sec.”

“Hop,” Linda giggled. “What an appropriate word.”

I had barely turned off the stove before both kids stood before me, jackets in hand, ready to launch. We climbed into my pick-up and out of habit, I whistled for Kodi, my two-year-old St. Bernard to jump up in the back.

Five minutes later, we pulled up Linda’s gravel driveway. I could see a gaggle of kids oohing and aahing over something in the garage.

We tumbled out of the car and I told Kodi to lie down and stay. He looked at me with sorrowful brown eyes and laid his great square head on his paws with a sniff.

No sooner had I walked into the garage, when Christopher rushed at me, thrusting a bundle of soft silky fur in my arms. Everyone gathered around, cooing over this incredible lop-eared bunny.

“What’s its name?” squeaked Dillon.

“Her name is Samantha,” Linda answered, clearly thrilled to be the owner of the newest, coolest thing on the block.

“She’s so smooth.  Look at her ears, mom.” Christopher couldn’t keep his hands off of her. He turned to Linda’s son, David. You’ve got your own Easter Bunny!”  He whispered.

“Let’s let everybody else have a turn,” I suggested. Over the kids’ heads, I waggled my eyebrows at my friend Holly. She eyed me back, nodding at my unspoken message: There was no way in hell Holly or I were going to jump onto the bunny bandwagon.

“Isn’t she darling?” Linda asked.

“Yeah, darling.” I answered.

After everyone had gotten in their pets and kisses, Linda replaced Samantha in the bunny cage, a huge wire box about four feet high, with a neat little shelter and lots of clean fresh shavings. Linda invited us in for cookies and punch. I took one look at my watch and the other at the truck. Kodi was passed out, snoring contentedly in the late March afternoon sun.

“Ten minutes, kids. That’s all we have time for.” Christopher and Dillon rolled their eyes at me.

Twenty-six minutes later, I stepped out of the house, keys in hand, ahead of the children and parents putting on jackets and boots. I walked over to take one last look at the new rock star bunny.

Then the most awful thing happened.  I noticed the cage was closed but Samantha was nowhere to be found.

I whirled around and looked in the back of the truck…no dog. Behind me the troops were nearly to the door. I rushed around the corner of the garage and looked in the backyard. There in predatory splendor, my damn dog, was joyously beheading Samantha, looking like a tiger that hadn’t eaten for months.

The kids poured down the steps into the garage, in a beeline for the cage.  “Stop!”  I screamed.

The crowd jammed to a halt, eyes and mouths opened wide, staring at me. “What the, what’s wrong?”  Linda pushed past the kids toward me.

“Kids, inside, NOW.”  I commanded.  They filed back in, casting confused glances in my direction.

Linda looked at the cage, then at me. She then swung her eyes to my empty, dog-less truck. “No way,” she said.  She moved toward the garage entrance.

I put my hand out to stop her. “You don’t want to see this,” I warned.

“Oh shit,” she said.

“Go back inside.” I hissed. “Distract them.  I’ll…” What exactly was I going to do? “Take care of it,” I stuttered.

So, while Linda distributed a second round of cookies, I took what was left of Samantha with my bare hands and sprinted through the one acre pasture stretching below the house, bordered by a huge swamp.

I looked up at the house to make sure none of the kids was looking out the window and gave a huge swing, launching Samantha to her final resting place. I dipped my hands in the swamp’s brackish water to wash off the evidence, and then headed back to the garage.

I don’t remember how we dealt with the trauma of the kids realizing what had happened. I just know that Kodi was persona non-grata in the neighborhood after that.

I became known as the nightmare neighbor with the killer dog. I do recall that I spent the next five hours, driving all over Minneapolis, trying to find Samantha’s exact replica. I bought a $79 replacement bunny that looked close enough, and offered it with multiple apologies.

We were never invited back to Linda’s again. I can’t say I blame her.

It took me a long time to get over the trauma. I would wake up from horrible dreams of kids finding bunny parts all over the yard for months afterward. You see, I never did find Samantha’s head.

 

Note:  I have had the pleasure of working with Seal Dwyer as my editor and publisher for my books, The Ghosted Bridge and Finding Home.  Seal has taught a lot of authors the art of moving from writer to marketer in a pretty challenging publishing world.  Here she shares her experience as a scrappy, determined publishing gal in a big fish tank.  Learn more at the Facebook page for her publishing consulting firm, Appletree Book Services.

 

I literally grew up in the publishing industry. I remember going to book trade shows when I was three, four, five. I scored free books because I was cute. When I was the president of the Midwest Publisher’s Association, the secretary found a book report I’d written when I was eight and had published in the newsletter.

Seal Dwyer, Appletree Book Services

For me, publishing was a norm. There were books everywhere. When I was old enough to work, my Grammy hired me to fill in bits of jobs around North Star Press. I did shipping. I did bookkeeping. I designed my first book. I did a book cover. She had me try my hand at everything that I could. I believe it was because of her influence that now, as an adult, I am a multi-tasker par excellence.

But I also had a drawback. At thirty-three, I have seventeen years of experience. That always made for somewhat awkward relationships with authors and industry folks, especially with older men who didn’t want to listen to a “girl.”

The publishing community in Minnesota has always been rather female. There were some husband and wife duos, but most of the publishers I know are women. And women seem to bring a certain nurturing energy to the industry here. We help each other. We support each other. We teach. We work together. There’s an undercurrent of Mean Girls, sometimes, but for the most part, it’s a wonderful community.

But being a woman in a business that cuts so close to emotions, like publishing, also means that I had to become tough as nails sometimes. And that was a lesson I had to learn. I could be quaking on the inside, but I wouldn’t show it. Especially when getting pushed around by those older men who knew better, simply because they were older and men. It’s an old adage of the feminist movement that a woman has to be twice as good to be thought equal to a man. I’ve seen that.

Being a woman, and a small publisher, in an industry that doesn’t like either made me more stubborn, more crafty, more willing to find a way to fight. I am grateful to my Grammy, who was able to run the business with a level of grace I’ll never have, but who didn’t give an inch either.

I’m grateful to my mom, who taught me the virtues to yielding an unimportant point to win the battle. I’m grateful to the other publishers and editors I know, who each provided me community, counsel, and insight, strong, smart women like Sheyna Galyan and Pat Morris.

I’m grateful to bookstore owners like Sheri Olson who taught me what they needed so I could help my authors meet that. This community of women supported each other in this shark tank industry. And we got through it.

And I’m amazed every day at the women authors who consistently outsell their male counterparts, like Kristy, like Candace Simar. Who work twice as hard, who do what women do: keep going.

Being a woman and a publisher and an author and a business owner and all the other hats we wear is fueled by passion, drive, smarts, and working together. And I think this community is filled with a richness that is uniquely Minnesota. I’m grateful to have grown up in it! And to move it forward as an adult.