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Jacqueline C. Thomas - Romance Novelist

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Archives for September 2020

Quarantine Stories is now In-Print!

September 16, 2020 by jackiecthomas Leave a Comment

Dreams do come true, when you work for them. Today, Quarantine Stories launched in print edition for sale. I would imagine that any time that any author put out a book, self-published or otherwise, it’s a big deal. To me, today means so much more than simply putting my work out into the world, which is a big deal in it’s own right.

I am reminded of the first chapter book I ever read, it was the book Sox by Beverly Cleary. I was in third grade, and had struggled to learn how to read. I wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia until I repeated the second grade. I simply could not read. I remember walking out of school that day, and I can still see the goldenrod color of the book, and feel its cotton weave texture under my little fingers. The reason that this memory jogs today, is because it was the first time I ever read an entire chapter book. It was also the first time I read for entertainment, and enjoyed reading.

Fast forward to today, and I have published a book of my very own. Typing the words, I still cannot believe it. I had an entire marketing plan set in place and a series of blog posts about how to go about the process from a first-timer. Amazon, jumped the shark this morning and set the book for sale. Immediately upon receiving the email that the book was live, the marketer in me panicked. What about the marketing plan? Wait, not yet!

My inner Dude (Big Lebowski Reference) was like, it’s live so roll with it. So here we are. Quarantine Stories as a book is live and for sale…. holy shit!

The print edition has 5 additional stories that were not published along with juicy and sweet tidbits added to the original 20 stories. There is a print edition and an ebook edition (the ebook edition should be live within the next 24 hours) for sale on Amazon. This morning when I got the email and clicked on the link, and my book popped up I literally screamed and then began to cry. My kids who are doing elearning were in the room when this happened. Concerned, they rushed over to my desk and I explained to them that they were witnessing a dream come true, a dream I’ve worked hard for, and one I will continue to put all of my efforts behind.

I am a published author. Those words are powerful to me, and perhaps my biggest accomplishment to date.

If you’d like to purchase a copy of Quarantine Stories in print or in an eBook format, you can do so here.

In closing I would like to recognize a few people along the way who helped me get here. Success does not happen in a vacuum, so I share this momentous day with each of these individuals. To my amazing husband, who is my biggest cheerleader, bullshit detector, and excuse eliminator- Thank you for shoving me into self publishing. To my little sister who is an amazing writer as well, and an old-salt when it comes to self-publishing thank you for your continued support, and feedback from the first story until 10 pm. cover design conversations. I could not have done this without you. To my adopted mother Linda Dickey, thank you for giving me that first piece of feedback I ever had, “Describe the feeling of the shag rug under back.” That advice still makes me chuckle and I remember it every time I write. Linda, thank you for being an amazing editor and making sense of my word vomit. Lastly, to the Writing Community on Twitter, thank you for pushing me to self-publish Quarantine Stories. You all are always there to give honest feedback, and share in the journey.

Filed Under: Quarantine Stories, Self Publishing, Writing

The Top 10 Reasons I love #PitMad

September 2, 2020 by jackiecthomas Leave a Comment

Tomorrow is #PitMad a book pitching completion held on Twitter. This Twitter contest is held four times per year. This will be my first time participating this year. I haven’t been able to participate in March’s or July’s competitions this year due to work. So tomorrow is the day! I am so stupid excited. What makes this competition so awesome you ask? Well let me give you my top ten reasons I LOVE the #PitMad contest:

1. No Query Letter (well kind of)

This contests lets you pitch directly to agents! I hate writing query letters. Someone told me that a query letter only has to work once, and then you shouldn’t have to write another one. I’ve written my fair share of them, and I hope I am getting better at getting all of those magical ingredients in there. However, keep in mind if you get a “like”, during the contest you may still need to produce a query letter.

2. Community Spirit

The Writing Community on Twitter is an amazing resource for authors! It is one big community sharing the struggles, celebrating each other successes’s and supporting each other through the process of eventually getting our work out into the world no matter the journey. I love to retweet fellow authors on PitMad days. Its about writers helping writers.

3. Its Fun!

The contest runs from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. eastern, and it is one hell of a wild ride! You can put out three pitches through out this time, and you are praying and hoping for an agent to like your pitch. This is how you know you have a “bite.” After the event is over, you will contact the agent that liked your pitch and go from there.

4. There are Success Stories

People have gotten agents and book contracts through this contest. There is a list of authors who have gotten their big break this way.

5. What is your Genre

Fiction is a big pool, no it is gargantuan! Knowing specifically what genre you write in, is critically important. Some agents only represent certain genres so make sure to include yours when you pitch. A full list can be found on the PitchWars Website. For example I fall into the #A (Adult) #R (Romance) and #RS (Romantic Suspense) categories.

6. Make Friends

I have met some great people with amazing pitches through this completion. We celebrate each other’s successes and support each other, when that elusive like isn’t gained.

7. You’d better be Ready

Last year, I broke the cardinal rule of #PitMad. On a whim I pitched a finished manuscript that wasn’t quite ready. The story was finished, and had been developmentally edited but it had not been copy edited. I put it out there and didn’t expect much. Just my luck, and to my joy and horror, I got a few legitimate likes from agents. In between jumping up and down and adversely feeling like I wanted to vomit, I put in a panicked call to my copyeditor practically begging for the fastest turn around ever! Learn from me folks- DON’T DO THIS.

8. It can be one hell of a confidence boost

When your pitch gets a like, it is the best feeling in the whole world. For me, I’ve participated a few times and not gotten a single like from an agent. Rather than feel deflated, I’ve channeled these feelings into ambition reminding myself that my writing is worth putting in the hard work. I get back to work, writing, editing and querying. There are no shortcuts to success… most of the time.

9. You’re Putting Your Work Out There

Just like a query letter, the right pitch only has to work once. At the end of the day, it’s all about putting your work out there.

10. Know what your book is really about

Twitter gives you 280 characters to pitch your book, and you’d better leave a few of those to include the #pitmad hashtag, and your genre. Nothing will help you truly know what your book is about like this!

Filed Under: #PitMad, Querying, Writing

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