For seven years and with two completely finished novels, I searched for publication. Several times a month, I’d sent query letters and manuscripts out to agents and publishers. And those were in the days where you still printed off your manuscript and mailed it in—that got expensive, believe me.
At some point, you start to feel delusional. Early on, you thought your books were great. Later, you down played them to good. Finally, you start to admit that maybe they just sucked. Your hopes quit rising and you’re pleased if you get a rejection letter instead of just being ignored. The only reason you keep submitting to publishers is because you’re a stubborn son of a bitch and you don’t take no for an answer.
Those years are lonely. And they change you. You become the guy who is always writing and saying that he’s going to be a writer one day. For years people ask if you have something written, you say yes. Then they ask if you’re published. You say no.
That doesn’t count. And you both know it.
Then, one day, checking your personal email between the classes that you’re teaching, even though you’re not supposed to, you get an email saying your manuscript has been accepted. You don’t know much about this company, except that they published the best gay book you’ve ever read, Woke Up in a Strange Place, by Eric Arvin.
Dreamspinner Press.
You know that it’s changing your life, but you’re not sure how.
Four years later, you go to your first Dreamspinner conference. Life has completely changed. You have six books published and two more under contract. You’re no longer teaching. You’re writing full time and praying royalties will add up to something. While you write your books with only your corgi beside you, you’re no longer alone. You have hundreds of fellow author friends on Facebook (who knew there were so many writers out there!). You have many sweet and loyal readers who encourage you. You have a publisher you email with every thought, worry, request, and fear that enters your head. You’re no longer alone, but all of those people live in the computer. It’s a very different thing to meet them face to face.
The Dreamspinner conference was two weeks ago, and I got to meet the woman who changed my life. Elizabeth North. I wasn’t worried that she’d not live up to my expectations, but I was very much concerned that I wouldn’t live up to hers. It’s quite the experience to listen to the one person who made your dreams begin to come true. To have her take time to sit with only you and come up with the next stage of your career plans. To simply have living proof she exists and is a beautifully wonderful as you’d hoped.
And that was just my publisher. I got to meet Desi, my editor, who teaches me more about writing than anyone else ever could, even if I sometimes take the lessons kicking and screaming. And the authors. So many other Dreamspinner authors. All of you, sitting in a room, the great names of our gay romance kingdom alongside with the fledging authors like myself, and others who are getting ready to publish their first book. We were all equal. All given priority. All loved.
I don’t know what the next four years hold. Hell, don’t know what the next six months hold. But I do know this. I’m thankful for the countless rejection letters I received because they brought me Dreamspinner. I was proud to work with them before. But, it was nothing compared to the pride if feel about Dreamspinner now. From Elizabeth and Lynn telling me they’ll publish another of my books. To Desi making my writing so much better than it actually is. To Anne Cain making the most gorgeous covers. To Poppy Dennison making sure we’re equipped to promote our books. On and on and on.
Talk about winning the jackpot!
I am so proud and thankful to be part of the Dreamspinner family.
Brandon Witt’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about….
Website: http://www.brandonwitt.com
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.witt.author/?fref=ts
Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/AuthorArcade/brandon-witt
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brandon-Witt/e/B008FV6Y4M/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1454952325&sr=8-1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4896623.Brandon_Witt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5cFqYKyNyDCxExAonFPRA