I’ve been in the queer romance business now for six years, and the publishing biz for… well, let’s just say quite a bit longer.

You can write a great novel. You can try to surf the latest trends. But the one thing you absolutely have to do if you want to be a successful author is make connections.

Connections with readers who will love and recommend your books to others.

Connections with publishers and/or vendors who will get the book out to those readers.

Connections with other writers in your genre who will be your support system and shoulder to cry on.

And connections with your community, where, in time, you can become a beloved local writer.

All of this takes time, but it’s really not that complicated: open yourself up to people around you, listen more than you speak, and give everyone you meet respect.

For example, in the last six years, I’ve made more than 4,000 friends on Facebook. The vast majority of these are simply passing sparks in the night, but at least five hundred are my core peeps – folks with whom I have carried on passionate conversations, consoled when publishers closed or a bad review came in, hugged at cons, and otherwise made strong and lasting connections.

These people cheer me on when a new story comes out, and they tell their peeps about me and it. And they hold my hand when I need to vent and scream and cry.

I’m embarking on a new phase of my career, taking my shot at the big leagues, but the game is still the same.

Connect, connect, connect.

And then repeat.