Susan McBride writes:
I guess you could say I’m one of those overnight success stories that took a mere 20 years. I’ve been writing all my life—and have boxes of stories and three hand-made books from grade school to prove it—but didn’t realize I could actually pick “author” as a career choice until I was a freshman at the University of Texas in Austin, on a path toward a business degree, my schedule stacked with econ and math classes (subjects I hated). It didn’t take long to realize I was on the wrong path entirely. I was riding in the back seat of the family car from Houston to St. Louis for Christmas at my grandparents’ house, when it hit me. I wanted to write, had to write.
I took off a semester from college and wrote a 700-page historical novel that will never see the light of day. But that was enough to make up my mind. After transferring to the University of Kansas and graduating with a degree in public relations from the School of Journalism, I worked part-time jobs that allowed me days off so I could have time to create. (Yes, my straight-laced, IBM exec father was appalled, but what could he do?)
After ten years, ten manuscripts, several agents and plenty of rejections, I entered a novel called And Then She Was Gone in a slew of contests. It won the National Writers Association’s Best Novel competition and was a finalist in the St. Martin’s Best First Traditional Mystery Novel contest. Best of all, it earned the top spot in a contest sponsored by a small traditional press in Illinois, with the prize being publication. Gone went into two printings (1999 and 2000) and a second Maggie Ryan novel, Overkill, followed in 2001.
I was thrilled to be out there, but it was hardly the stuff of dreams. I banged my head against the wall everyday, wondering if there wasn’t more to all of this…if I couldn’t move up to the big leagues and find a publisher with decent distribution who would promote my book a whole lot better (or, at all).
After hooking up with an agent who had a few big-name clients—and who wanted to rep a manuscript I’d dusted off called Blue Blood—I finally stepped up to the plate in the majors. Within six weeks, I had a three-book deal with Avon for my Debutante Dropout Mysteries, and I was ecstatic. Blue Blood hit bookstores in February of 2004 and has done amazing things, going into four printings, earning award nominations (and winning the Lefty in a tie with my buddy Donna Andrews), and selling beyond my wildest dreams. The Good Girl's Guide to Murder was released this February and was a BookSense pick, and The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club will be out in late January of 2006.
I have a new agent, whom I adore, and a great relationship with my editor at HarperCollins. I’ve just revised the third Maggie Ryan book, so I’m hopeful I’ll be able to write both dark and light, which satisfies the good and evil in me…and I’m looking forward to many years ahead in this tough, crazy business that I love. Perhaps, I can serve as the poster-child of persistence for writers who don’t want to go the vanity press route and are determined to reach traditional publication somehow, someday. Hang in there, okay? Just work your ass off, don’t give up, and it can happen to you, too.
Susan McBride is the author of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries, Blue Blood (Lefty Award co-winner, Anthony Award Best PBO nominee), The Good Girl's Guide to Murder, and The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club (January 2006). She also contributes to the group blog, The Lipstick Chronicles.
