I was fortunate, though at the time I didn’t think so. Here’s the back story.

It was several years ago, and I was hawking BLUFF to literary agents.

When I finally got someone to look at the MS, I was thrilled. But she came back and told me that, while she loved the first part, she hated the second. She suggested that I give it a “drastic haircut.” And rethink some of the subplots. I had already given in a several haircuts and had it professionally edited and then proofread. Twice.

The second literary agent I approached told me I was destined to be a “big talent” but he personally didn’t love the book. Correction: he loved the second part, but hated the first part. But he recognized my potential as a blockbuster writer and wanted to work with me on a second novel. I asked  him if this was standard operating procedure for a literary agent. He said he liked to work hands-on with authors. And since he produced at least one Pulitzer Prizing winning author–Kenneth Follett– who was I to say no?

His guidance to me was this: Write the book you always wanted to write.

So I did. I wrote “Third Willow” under his tutelage. Six months from that April, we had a finished, edited novel. For this one, I actually wrote out chapter synopses, outlines, character development and arcs, and much more. I had never done that before, but he insisted. And because of his creds and his rep in the industry, I obliged. And learned a lot in the process.

The novel never sold–my agent cut back his hours thanks to pending retirement–and he reverted the rights back to me. Now I had two unsold novels instead of one, wondering what in the world I was expected to do now.

I abandoned the idea of a savior for my books, I launched into self publishing last year. And here’s why I call myself fortunate. I’ve been told that the best way to promote your current book is to have your next book ready to launch.

And now that’s the case. Third Willow is a structurally beautiful work of literary fiction with, of course, deep themes. How could it not? I wrote it.