
Me, ten years ago in the summer of 2004, when the first copies of Why the Sky is Blue arrived on my doorstep.
Ten years ago, in the summer of 2004, something big happened that changed the course of my life career-wise. My first novel, Why the Sky is Blue, was released by Harvest House Publishers. Up to that point I’d been a newspaper editor, even though I was in my forties and had dreamed of writing a novel since high school.
The euphoria of those early days of my life as a novelist (finally!) are still fresh on my mind a decade later. I remember getting the email from an editorial assistant at Harvest House that one of the fiction editors had seen my proposal and wanted to see the full manuscript. I remember Nick Harrison emailing me around Labor Day of 2003, introducing himself to me and telling me he was going to be reading the manuscript for Why the Sky is Blue that weekend. I remember the day he told me he was taking the book to the publishing committee and the day he told me that pubco said yes, and that I would be offered a two-book contract. I remember the heady moment when I did an Amazon search and found my name listed as an author before the book ever came out. And I remember this moment pictured above, when the street copies arrived on my doorstep and I opened the boxes and held the book in my hands for the first time.
I had never taken a writing class beyond high school, I hadn’t majored in writing in college, and I didn’t have an agent. Not then anyway. So much has changed since that day ten years ago. I do have an agent now, and I’ve not only taken some writing workshops, I have taught many. I’ve 16 books to my name and can’t see stopping. It’s been a wonderful, scary, thrilling, frustrating, humbling, affirming career-change. There’s nothing else I’d rather do with my work-day.
Why the Sky is Blue was printed before the advent of ebooks and sadly went out of print before the advent of ebooks. There are a few print copies floating around but the book by and large is out of circulation and has been for quite awhile. I am happy to say that I’ve had the rights reverted to me and I am in the process of shaping up the very old Word doc that is this book and preparing it for a re-release later this year. A beautiful new e “cover” has been designed for it and I’m going through the sentences line by line, tightening up the prose here and there to make it the best I can without messing with the integrity of the original paragraphs. I will keep you informed of the progress and I hope to announce a soon-to-be-released date for the electronic version of Why the Sky is Blue very soon. In the meantime, raise a glass, grab some cake or a cookie or a carrot stick, and let’s toast to the ten-year-anniversary of a little novel that started something big.
And thanks for being alongside me on this journey. I wouldn’t have wanted to travel it without you…
Congrats! You still inspire me! Your ‘voice’ is as sincere and beautiful as ever.
Congratulations! I first read one of your books when I was in high school. (The Shape of Mercy) I have been following you since. I just finished The Fall of Marigolds last week and loved it! Can’t wait to read more of your work.
Thanks, Jamie and Shelbie. So good to have you gals along the journey…
Hooray! This is great news. I can’t wait to read it.
Happy Anniversary, Susan. I enjoyed learning about these early days of yours, and love the photo.
2004 was a big year for me too. I came out of the chemo fog and decided to try my hand writing about the 18th century.
Thanks, Susy!! And Lori my dear, the literary world is so very glad your life was spared so that you could try – and audaciously succeed – your hand at writing about the 18th century!
Congratulations, Susan!!
Why the Sky is Blue was a wonderful intro into a new world of Christian fiction. Thrilled it will be available again to new audiences. And I’m glad to say, I still have my paper & ink copy. I go back to all your books on occasion to study. Thanks for keeping at it!
Brought tears to my eyes! My little girl, a REAL author. A GREAT author! I still have my copy of the original manuscript with yellow post-its sticking out all over! So very, very proud!!
Thanks, sweet Mary Kay. And hey, thanks Mom! That MS will be worth something someday, right? Maybe when you sell it on eBay we can go back to Montmarte and this time take the elevator…
Echoing the others here. You are an inspiration, Susan. Your writing is brilliant! I want to be you when I grow up. 😀
Congrats on 10 yrs! I have to say Why the Sky is Blue is my favorite of your books, Shape of Mercy 2nd. They are all good, though. Can’t see why you want to tweak it though…it was perfect!!
Wow, Kathleen! Thanks. And Patti, you are sweet to say it was perfect the first time…
Yes and ditto! Each time I read one of your books, I wish I had another one to pick up when I’ve finished. But then I remember I have my own stories to write…and you’re one of the authors who inspire me to keep going, even when it seems crazy. Because words make a difference. So we do it for that reason. And probably because we’d curl up into pathetic balls of pitiful humans if we didn’t…
Thanks for keeping the fires lit and congrats on this, I look forward to hearing more.
🙂
Huge congrats! Your story gives me hope, lol. Can’t wait for the ebook!
Thanks, Cathy. You honor me with your kind words. Shaela, hang in there and don’t give up!
What a sweet anniversary to celebrate-congrats! That book is a favorite…I’ve read it a few times. I treasure my copy which was a gift from a dear friend!
I just discovered you this year, reading three of your books since Jan 1. My mother has a signed copy of Why the Sky is Blue (you had a table set up at the drugstore, she said). I didn’t realize you have written SIXTEEN books in ten years!!! Yes, that’s quite an accomplishment.
Thanks, Kristi!
I see a lot of interesting content on your blog. You have to spend a lot of time writing, i
know how to save you a lot of work, there is a tool that creates readable, SEO friendly
articles in couple of seconds, just search in google – k2 unlimited content
Susan, I just learned of you this year and my book club is now reading Why the Sky Is Blue (we first read A Fall of Marigolds). You have become a favorite author and I can’t wait to read more of your books.
Thanks, LeeAnn!
whxp nx fedex