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Health & Fitness

Let Your Imagination Run Wild; Be Fearless

Doctor’s OrdersBook 2 in the PMS Private Investigator Series was released.  Even though I had written the story only about 2 months after writing the first book A Family Affair, it seems as though it took years to finally go live!

Because I was fortunate enough to receive such positive feedback with the original, I admittedly was quite nervous on how this one would be perceived.  It’s a bit of a zany storyline, but definitely follows suit with the same humor as the first.   Luckily, it has been doing well so far.  I actually received an email from the Publisher who facilitated the distribution, asking that I hold off on letting folks know Doctor’s Orders was available via e-book because many had already bought copies.  They were still testing the downloads on many of the sites and I didn’t even know they had put it out there, so it felt really good to know that readers who enjoyed A Family Affair  had been waiting and watching for the next book and jumping at the opportunity to make the next story their own.

Now that I am an official Author times two, I feel worthy enough to speak to how much of a commitment this path requires.  I have a full-time day job and four boys to juggle around this ‘hobby’, but if I was ever able to earn a living penning books only, I’m positive there would never be a dull moment.  With the guidance of Jillian and Heather from Expose Yourself PR, I’ve been introduced to great opportunities that I couldn’t have tackled on my own, which have provided fantastic visibility to my achievements and got others asking “when is the next book going to be available?”.  While that aspect of writing is exciting and it’s awesome to let your imagination take the driver’s seat, there is an enormous sense of self satisfaction and pride from turning my determination into reality and hearing others recall their favorite scenes and characters. 

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Most recently I have submitted the books to several Literary Agents.  Actually, let me retract that statement, I submitted AFamily Affair to about 100 Agents when I first wrote it.  If you’re a person that can’t handle rejection then skip that step and self-publish.   Not that their lack of willingness includes harsh feedback, but it can definitely give your self-esteem a hit, especially if you have faith in your work.  Oddly, being told no simply drives my ambition even harder,  so I started sending queries to actual Publishers and did receive two contracted offers but because the timing of the releases were not in sync with when I wanted to go live, I still went at it alone.  But as the books have gained popularity, I have decided to take a shot earning a more formal type of representation again.  I feel better about my submissions because I can speak to the success the Series has earned and hopefully I’ll get a yes from one of the many who handed out so many of those no’s previously.  If it doesn’t work out in my favor, I’ll continue on the path that I have notched out for myself and keep the focus of my energies on future stories and doing what I can to keep the readers happy and entertained.

One of the favorite things I love is the sneak peek into what is to come in the next book and the fact that even though it provides an idea of the baseline of the plot,  be assured that it will take a left turn and provide an outcome that no one expects.   The element of surprise never gets old!

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I’ve begun the third book and although I know where I want it to go, hearing ideas from those who will plan to enjoy it are always welcome and your name would be included in the cover pages.   Find me on Facebook under Amber Rochelle Gillet and share your thoughts!  Thank you.

 

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