Tess Gerritsen posted a neat blog today about her 20-book/20-year career. Learned a lot and liked the post enough that I went out and bought one of her books.

I think this was my favorite part:

SUCCESS TAKES TIME

I didn’t hit the bestseller list until book #10. I didn’t start to sell consistently well until book #14. When I hear new authors complain that they haven’t found success after two or three books, I can only shake my head at their impatience. It may take another seven books. Even then, it doesn’t mean the media’s going to pay any attention to you. Oprah isn’t beating on my door, either.

Bestselling romance author Linda Howard recently wrote a terrific column about her career, and she revealed that it wasn’t until her 25th book that she hit the bestseller list. Twenty five books! How many writers have the patience and fortitude to wait that long for success?

I hear bitterness in the voices of so many new authors who haven’t yet achieved bestsellerdom. Bitterness gets you nowhere. What you need to do is roll up your sleeves and write the next book. And the next. And maybe twenty more.

I like that. It's inspiring. Like hearing the tidbit that Linda Howard didn't hit a bestseller list until her 25th book. Sure there are people who seem to be instant bestsellers, people whose books are bought just as furtively as crack. More power to them. I'm not hating on them (much.) I'm too focused on the people in my head.

This December marks my seventh year in print. Am I where I wanted to be as a writer? No. I had no idea my books wouldn't be shelved in the romance section. I had no idea that people would have a hard time finding my books period. I had no idea I'd have personal and professional hiccups that kept me from writing and publishing books. But I keep on.

This December will mark my seventh release. Seven years, seven titles. Sure two of them are anthologies, but they are damn good stories. By this time next year, I'm planning to be up to eleven. And who knows? Maybe my tenth one will be the one.
Seven years, seven titles. If it's good enough for Tess Gerritsen, it's good enough for me.

Peace and blessings,

Seressia

PS: I haven't forgotten that I promised a blog on "Are Black Romances Different?" I'm working on it, and hope it will be ready to go for next Monday.