D. A. Irsik

I am planning a Facebook live Cover Reveal party for Heroes by Design! It will be on Monday, December 3rd at 6:30. I will read my first editorial review and chill with writer friends at our gathering place. Finally getting close to publication!

 

I am going to publish with Ingram Spark. I have fought the good fight and I am not getting any younger. Traditional publishers are harder than ever to get accepted and Agents are the same. Indie-publishing has changed the face of the publishing world.

I knew when I began my journey that I had put myself in a very small box but being an optimist I was determined to be that new author in the very small percent to get that elusive break.

Middle Grade is a popular area for books now. They are looking for authors that deal with tough subjects in creative ways. I have done that I believe but openly giving credit to God for the success is not a popular stance. Never-the-less I am encouraged to get the book out and market it to the best of my ability.

Sooo, with the help of my wonderful editor, Hazel Hart, my book formator, Curtis Becker and the support of, The Emporia Writers Group, I am well on my way to seeing, HEROES by DESIGN, ‘Hero’s Challenge,’ published before Christmas. (fingers crossed)

Hero’s Journey will follow and by the end of summer, Hero’s Purpose. Then the 3 box set! All your prayer would be enthusiastically appreciated!

 

Yep, here we go again. I am back to querying. I realized after I had my manuscript edited for content that I had queried too soon. I had tried to sell a skeleton. Characters that lacked body and a plot that had Swiss cheese holes in it.

I thank Hazel Hart for editing and mentoring me as I re-wrote yet again and came out with a better manuscript. I thought that I would just go ahead and self-publish and try to pitch the book to publishers or agents at conferences and I may still but I have to give traditional one more shot. My query is better, my book is better and I have learned more than I thought possible.

Heroes by Design is an MG/Christian Fiction manuscript. The box is very small. I want it to have the best possible chance to get to my target audience, which is 11 to 13-year-olds. They get their books from school book fairs and libraries or from gatekeepers. Parents or family members who want to encourage healthy reading. Finding a way to reach my audience is a challenge but I want to meet it head-on.

I may self-publish or use a Hybrid publisher in the end but I will give it one last big push for traditional publishing to give me a better chance of reaching more young people who might be influenced by Sela, Emily, and Zach. Persistence, Power, and Praise; their superhero names. Hopefully one or two might just find the Hero in themselves. The Hero that they are each designed to be.

A Scene from Chapter Two: Sela is recovering from the loss of her dog, Thor.

Emily was waiting for Sela at her locker and gave her a big hug.

Sela smiled through her tears. “I’m okay, but thanks. You’re the best.”

Someone slammed into Emily from behind, and she fell into Sela, sending both stumbling. Emily fell and dropped her papers and books, and Sela teetered awkwardly, barely keeping her balance.

Mara Stamford stood over Emily with a fake look of concern. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you drop your books?”

Emily looked up with an angry, pained expression. “You bi-”

“Bumped her,” Sela interjected. “I’m sure it was an accident.”

Emily gaped at Sela. “That was no accident. She did it on purpose, and you know it.”

Sela helped Emily up and started picking up books. Emily planted her feet in front of Mara and got in her face, but Sela dropped the books again and stepped in front of her. She grasped Emily’s wrist and held it tight.

Mara looked at both girls with a self-satisfied smirk. “Well, it’s been real, girls. Have a nice day. Oh, and Sela, I hope your little doggie didn’t suffer too much. I saw you crying in front of the school Friday. It must be hard to lose your only friend.”

Emily fought to loosen Sela’s grip.

Sela’s eyes filled once again. “Thanks for your concern, Mara. Hopefully, you’ll have a friend as faithful as Thor someday.”

“Oh, don’t worry about me. I have real friends, Sela. I don’t have to depend on an animal.”

If Zach hadn’t come around the corner right at that moment, resting his arm on Emily’s shoulder, and glaring at Mara, who knows what would have happened.

Emily was furious. Sela, “Why did you do that?”

Sela stood her ground. “We have to be better than that. People who intimidate others are just crying out for attention. Mara must have problems; we just need to pray for her.”

Emily’s eyes flashed. “Are you kidding? I’ll pray for her all right. I’ll pray that someone steals her clothes in P.E. and she’ll have to run home naked.”

Sela looked at Emily wide-eyed and they both started to laugh.

Zach turned red and shook his head, his voice breaking like it was searching for a note. “Girls! Why do my best friends have to be girls?”

 

Yep I am back. Life just gets in the way sometimes. So an update:

Yes, I am still in the process of publishing, I have done another re-write and hopefully have a better book for it. I have a wonderful editor and support group and feel confident that I am ready to publish.

Now a cover. I have come up with a few ideas and hope to work with an artist soon to narrow it down and find the perfect one to introduce my series into the world. It is not un-like giving birth. You want it to enter the world a happy and healthy baby that will have a positive affect on the world.

I have said before that writing is the easy part and I repeat…writing is the joy and publishing is like a creative person and algebra. It grates, it does not come naturally, it sucks!

The entire process is frightening and stressful. It is hard. Like life it is always a challenge. I have grown in ways I never would have guessed possible. I have discovered things about my writing that I never would have expected. I love writing fiction almost as much as writing poetry. Who knew?

God willing I will have published Heroes by Design by the end of September and Book II will be in the hands of Hazel Hart, my wonderful editor.

The wait is over. The publisher has decided not to accept my book so I guess I will continue on my planned path. I will explore publishing with Ingram-Spark tomorrow. I honestly thought that the only way to get a MG/inspirational book to my audience was through traditional publishing but I am committed to moving forward. I entered the Writers Digest Competition this evening and I will get begin the self-publishing journey tomorrow. Thank You for your continued support and prayers in this journey. I am a little bummed but I know God has a plan.

I am still waiting for the publisher to get back with me and realize that I need to keep writing. I have a new idea for the 3rd book and talked to a young man that does Spoken Word poetry. I want him to write a short piece for my book and I am excited to include this amazing poetry. It is the kind of thing that sticks in your head like a song. I am ready for the 2nd book, Heroes Purpose, to be edited and working on the outline for # 3. Praying everyday that I will hear good news from the publisher!!