I don't think it'll come as a huge shock to anyone when I say that one of my favorite authors is the talented Sherrilyn Kenyon. Her stories are so unique, filled with excitement, danger, hot sex. She along with Christine Feehan, Amanda Ashley and a tiny handful of others were the first authors to write paranormal romance. With over seventeen million copies of Sherrilyn's books in print in over thirty countries, you'd think she has nothing to worry about when it comes to getting published, huh? I have this visual of the woman sitting on a throne, with all the publishers begging for her to write for them.
It's always a shock to me to learn that these great authors are people like you and me. They have kids, a spouse, bills to pay, errands to run, the works! And the biggest shock of all? They get rejected, just like us.
In Sherrilyn Kenyon's latest release, "Born of Fire", she shares a little of her own personal bumpy road to publication with her readers. After I finished reading it, my mouth was hanging open and I couldn't speak. I was simply shocked by her story. Again, she's so fabulous that I just assumed it'd been a simple matter of submitting and ta-da! She's published! Imagine my surprise to learn that's SO not how it happened!
I won't tell you the whole story, for that you'll need to buy the book and read the Author's Note. But I will share the rejection she got from one publishing house.
"No one at this publishing house will ever be interested in developing this author. Do not submit her work to us again."
Yeah, it blew me away too. At first I was flabbergasted that someone with so much talent would get a rejection letter this horrible. Then I realized something else. It didn't stop her. She wrote the books she wanted to write and she achieved success. That's what I call perseverance! And it's also what I call an 'in your face' moment! LOL!
Rejections sting. There's no two ways about it. It cuts a slice out of your self-esteem every damn time. But, hell, if Sherrilyn Kenyon can keep on truckin' after reading THAT, then what's stopping the rest of us, right?!
So, to sum it up...Sherrilyn Kenyon, you totally rock!!
13 comments:
I just got that book. haven't read it yet though. I will have to check out the authors note. That publisher is probably kicking themselves now!!
LOL. Yeah, Kell, I thought the same thing. Every now and then I'll hear about someone who immediately sold the first book they ever wrote but that's just not typical. Most of us are swimming in rejection letters before getting 'the call'. I've also read that S. Kenyon is a big big supporter of epublishing because her first stuff was published that way.
Makes me wonder if the person who sent that particular rejection letter had to end up looking for a new job. LOL
LOL Anne...I was going to say I wonder how many editors at that house are now looking for jobs elsewhere?
WOW. I love her books but I read somewhere once that Stephen King got rejected a lot too when he first started out. I know I have a few rejection letters. I was lucky enough though to get 'supportive' rejection letters where the editor actually encouraged me to write, told me where I was going wrong, and told me to submit to them again when I worked on the issues she pointed out. Nice editor to take the time and it helped the sting of rejection, I appreciated it, and after using her advice, I landed a contract somewhere else on a new book I had just written. LOL!
True Laurann, Stephen King had some minor success with selling stories but he couldn't sell a book to save his life. he was about to give up and even threw a ms in the trash...which his wife later dug out...that book was Carrie. He sold the hardback rights for 2,000 dollars and then the paperback rights for 400,000 =) hurrah for inspiration!
PS: Anne is amazing.
Molly--Exactly!!
Laurann--Those supportive Rs can be so helpful!
Stephen--Wow, he actually threw it away??? Dang! I didn't know that! Well, don't you ever do that! Esp. with your latest awesome WIP!
(and tanx for the compliment *g*)
Great author success story - unbelievable that anybody would say that to anyone really. Just found your blog and am now following you. :)
I love it when authors share the pain they went through on the way to success. It gives the rest of us so much inspiration. Instead of thinking, "What a loser I am," you can think, "hey, I'm kinda like Sherrilyn Kenyon!" So thanks, Sherrilyn! Your honesty is appreciated. And thanks for the blog, Anne!
Kathy--I feel the same way! Totally unprofessional. And thanks for the follow! :)
Juniper--I thought the same thing when I read that. After the shock wore off, I though geez maybe I'm NOT such a loser!
I bet the jerk wasn't happy when she hit big with another publisher! She's making a lot of money for someone else now..LOL
I love her stuff.
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