"The Journey - Part 2" by Nancy Herriman, Author: Guest Blogger & Giveaway

It is a joy and privilege to have guest blogger
Nancy Herriman with us again today to
tell us about her Journey as a new author.

Nancy Herriman writes.....   Those of you who follow this blog might recall that when I last wrote a post in August, I described my journey (all ten-plus years of it) to become a published author. (The Journey, Part 1 link)  The road was frustratingly long but very rewarding, and resulted in this year’s April release of The Irish Healer. No author, though (at least not the ones I know), is satisfied with resting on his or her proverbial laurels, brushing their hands together and declaring they are finished with writing after the release of their debut effort. Nope, another book has to be produced. But if I thought I felt anxiety when I was working on The Irish Healer…

My contract with Worthy Publishing was a two-book deal, meaning I had to deliver a second book to them, due a year after my debut novel had released. Fortunately, there was no stipulation that it had to be related to The Irish Healer. I already had begun a story set in 1880s San Francisco about an artist with big dreams and a long-lost (okay, he’s actually believed to be dead by everyone in town) heir fighting over an inheritance. I thought it would be easy to fulfill my obligation - the book was mostly written! - despite dealing with some serious health issues. Little did I understand, even though I’d been warned by my published friends, the effort required to nurture a writing career…and how little housework gets done while you’re arguing with your muse (again) or fretting about what to wear to a publicity event.

Confession time--publicity stuff scares me! Writing a book is one thing, but then you have to sell it, and that requires marketing. Thank goodness my publisher has provided me with some amazing assistance, but in the end, I personally have to get out there and, well, sell. Me. My work. My hopes and my vision. Forge a connection to readers, the vast majority of whom I’ll never meet. All of this absolutely necessary work takes time. A great deal more time than I imagined. And a great deal of stepping out of my comfort zone to do radio interviews and appear at book signings. As outgoing as I am capable of being, this is scary stuff. I had to learn to not let it distract me.

Meanwhile, edits and polishing of Josiah’s Treasure (the title of my 1880s San Francisco book) had to continue. Then, reviews of The Irish Healer began to roll in. Fortunately, most of them were positive. But when I also began to receive e-mails and notes from readers who loved my book, I discovered a new worry--would they love Josiah’s Treasure as much? I now had readers whom I didn’t want to disappoint. Would they come to love Sarah and Daniel and the girls at Sarah’s art studio as much as I did? Would they find my descriptions of life in San Francisco as interesting as I had when I was doing my research? Would my readers at all care about the legacy left by a heart-weary gold miner to two people searching for love? Only time will tell.

And my author’s journey continues. I hope my family hasn’t minded the dust bunnies and the take-out dinners too much, because, after all, I’ve got another book to write.

A blurb about Josiah’s Treasure:  Sarah Whittier dreams of opening an art studio run by immigrant women. She plans to use the house left to her by family friend Josiah Cady as collateral for her business. But will all be lost when the inheritance is challenged by a man claiming to be Josiah’s son and legal heir? Rumors of gold nuggets hidden in the house place Sarah’s life in danger. Her future uncertain and her safety threatened, Sarah has nowhere to turn. That is, unless she can soften a vengeful man’s heart–and they both learn that love is the greatest treasure of all. Chat With Vera's  review of "Josiah's Treasure."  And also Chat With Vera's review of "The Irish Healer."

GIVEAWAY: Nancy Herriman is providing a copy of Josiah's Treasure for one of Chat With Vera's readers to win. Follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form to enter. Begins March 21 and ENDS April 5 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA mainland residents only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Bio:  Nancy Herriman abandoned a career in Engineering to chase around two small children and take up the pen. She hasn’t looked back. When she is not writing, or gabbing over lattes about writing, she is either watching history shows on cable TV or singing. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and sons, and wishes there were more hours in the day. You can learn more at her website, www.nancyherriman.com. Also, if you participate in social media, please join her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Author.NancyHerriman or on Twitter (@Nancy_Herriman).