Comments on: Saturday Chit-Chat: Julie’s “call” story

By: Erica Ridley

Erica Ridley — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:16:08 +0000

Julie, what a great story of dedication, determination and perseverance! Guess that means I better quit my whinin’ and cryin’ and keep plugging away toward my goals…

Thanks for always being so honest and accessible!

By: Lori Borrill

Lori Borrill — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 16:41:04 +0000

Chiming in a day late but wanted to say I loved your story!! They are always so fun to read and such an inspiration.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 12:34:01 +0000

You know…you are the best!!! I love the fact that you are so honest with us. You always tell us the good and the bad. So much of the craft that I have learned has been from you, Sue, and Karen. I think the best thing that I have learned is to write the book…it may not be great but to write it and then write another and another…find my voice and continue to learn. You have taught me that if I do not give up and keep learning this business and craft then it can happen for me.

Thanks for sharing your story with everyone. And for anyone who may not have read SEDUCING SULLIVAN, let me just say Wow, what a first book to be published. It’s great!!!

By: Jodie

Jodie — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:40:04 +0000

Thanks for telling your story - your personal story as well as the great ones you give us to read!

Hope everyone’s having a great weekend.

By: Julie Leto

Julie Leto — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 19:59:00 +0000

Thanks, everyone! It was a long, hard battle, but I don’t regret a single moment of it.

In fact, when I go back and read those original manuscripts, I just cringe that I sent them out. While the stories were fun and the characters unique and fresh (even now, I think) the writing was not very good. THAT’s why I wasn’t getting published. I simply didn’t write well enough.

For the paranormal, the writing was decidedly better and I’m sure I would have sold if the line hadn’t folded. However, how lucky am I that I was saved from selling and losing the line out from under me? I think that would have devastated me more. And if I had sold it then, I never would have been able to rewrite and retool the story and sell it now to NAL. I love the story SO much more now–it has more layers, much sexier, etc. So it all worked out.

Things happen for a reason and they happen at the right time. If not for Brenda, I not only wouldn’t have sold my first book (and my second, and my third, etc.) I wouldn’t have met my fellow plotmonkeys!

I have very little patience for aspiring writers who aren’t willing to pay their dues, learn to write well and get published all in due time. There are no short cuts and life isn’t fair. It’s hard to hear, but it’s true and I’m living proof.

By: Kelly F.

Kelly F. — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 19:35:08 +0000

Thank God you didn’t give up!! And by the way, March 14th is a special day for me as well. If I had given up when the Dr.’s told me I would have a long tough road trying to get pregnant then I NEVER would have had my daughter on March 14th, 2004. :love2:

By: Donna M

Donna M — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 19:30:37 +0000

Thanks for persevering Julie so we have good books to read. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for writers struggling to get published. The advice to never give up is valuable but it must be very hard to continually get rejections for something you worked so hard to produce. Thanks for the insight about what it takes to get published the first time.
Everyone have a great weekend.

By: Tina Martinesi

Tina Martinesi — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 18:04:59 +0000

I just ordered Seducing Sullivan from Amazon, can’t wait to read it!

By: Tina Martinesi

Tina Martinesi — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:50:29 +0000

Wow Julie, I really enjoyed the insight, and I’m glad you never gave up your dream, your an inspiration

By: Stephanie S.

Stephanie S. — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:49:28 +0000

Julie, thank you so much for telling us your call story. It is nice to hear about the determination and drive you used to sell your first book along with your never give up attitude. It inspires me as a writer (who would love to one day get published) to write what I love no matter what rejections will come me way.