Self Publishing Her Way to Success
Terry Miles October 8, 2008
I’ve always written. I believe I was born with a pencil in my hand. I remember my grandpa making me create all those little circles consistently while seated at the kitchen table.
Inside my soul was definitely a book! Flash forward many years. After many, many rejections slips, letters, notes and yes, even e-mails, a lead acquisition editor was keeping my three chapters on my cozy little murder mystery. Nine months later, the envelope came with my rejection pink slip.
Only this rejection note was different. He had scribbled across the synopsis of my novel, “You need more blood, guts and sex!”
I removed the top paper and made a copy and added my own words. “Have you not heard of ‘Matlock’ and ‘Murder, She Wrote’? “ I asked. “They both manage to SOLVE THE CRIMES BUT KEEP THEIR CLOTHES ON!”
I thought…there has to be a way and an audience. Enter the word: self-publishing. I didn’t know anything about nothing! I had a manuscript. I called. The nice gentleman asked about a disc. Duh! Then he added the word ‘scanning’. Double duh. I did my research. Got the story scanned.
Now, proof-reading. Six eyes are better than two, right? Sure, if you can trust them to read the ENTIRE BOOK. Again lessons learned. Don’t pay them UNTIL they finish the job. After three starts, four back ups and a giant leap forward, my first book was in print by September 2004. A smashing success.
Now eight cozy little murder mysteries later, my two protagonists, Bea Winslow, Private Investigator and her lovable Aunt Jewels are still solving murders and catching the bad guys and gals. Oh yes, I have one children’s book published with AuthorHOUSE and another will be out soon!
About Terry Miles
Terry I. Miles lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is currently employed at the University of Southern Mississippi in the College of Education and Psychology. Having acquired an Associates Degree from Jefferson Davis Junior College in 1997 and a BA in English and History in 1999 from USM, she is continuing her education in various avenues.
She has been the Secretary of the Gulf Coast Writers Association for the past four years and is also a member in good standing in The National Scholars Honor Society. Recently she was contacted by the Cambridge Registry of Who’s Who.
She is an accomplished actress for coast community theater and the published author of eight cozy little murder mysteries and one children’s book. Another delightful children’s book is coming for Christmas of 2008.
Terry Miles Profile at OnceWritten.com
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