Never Give Up: Interview with Lillie Ammann

November 6, 2008 · by Joanna Paterson · in

Some of you might know Lillie Ammann who writes at “A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye”.  This is one of my favourite blog titles, because it captures Lillie’s character, skills and approach so well.  Although I tend to think of Lillie as first and foremost an editor (and the first person I’d turn to with an editing query) she’s also a published author.

Her most recent novel: Dream or Destiny has recently been published and Lillie is currently promoting it through a virtual book tour.  I’m delighted that today is the day Lillie is stopping over at Confident Writing.

Interview with Lillie Ammann on Getting Your Book Published

Lillie, thanks very much for taking some time out of your busy book tour to come and talk to us about Dream or Destiny.  I’ve got a few questions I’ve been itching to ask you about the writing and publishing process, so without further ado…

How does it feel to see Dream or Destiny out in print?

Lillie: Incredible! I wrote the manuscript about ten years ago and even had an agent for a couple of years. All I got from that was a number of rejections.

After the contract with the agent expired, I put the manuscript away for some time. Periodically I edited it again and tried to get it published.

So it’s a real thrill that it’s finally happened.

What did you find the most challenging aspect of writing (or publishing) the novel?

Lillie: The ups and downs of the long journey.

Getting an agent was exciting but didn’t produce any results. At one point, I sold the novel to a publisher then pulled the book after the publisher changed the focus of their business to erotica.

I would put the manuscript away and forget about it for years at a time, but it kept calling me … demanding to be published.

And what was the most enjoyable dimension for you?

Lillie: Every time I pulled the book out and edited it again, I got more excited about it.

After being away from it for months or years, it was like reading someone else’s story. And I was pleased each time to discover that I enjoyed reading it.

Lillie, I know you do a lot of work editing as well as writing your own material.  Did you cast your “editor’s eye” over Dream or Destiny, or pass the editor’s job on to someone else to do?

Lillie: I edited this manuscript after I finished the first draft then again several years later. In fact, I wrote about my experience editing for your Absorbing Writing group writing project, My Ideal Writing Weekend.

Six friends (two published authors and four of my blog readers) read the manuscript and gave me feedback, and I made revisions based on their suggestions. My editor at GASLight did several rounds of edits; I edited it twice; and my editor and I did a read-aloud edit together. GASLight also hired two outside editors who had not read the story to do the final two readings.

Amazingly, after all that, when I proofed the galley, I found a few errors, including an editorial comment that hadn’t been removed.

What final piece of advice would you give to any of my readers who are thinking about writing, or publishing, their own novel?

Lillie: Persevere!

A few years ago, a romance writer friend had her first novel published by a major romance publisher. She did a survey of all first-time authors published by the major romance publishers that year. On average, they had been writing for seven years and had seven completed manuscripts before they made their first sale.

I suspect most genres have similar statistics. It took five years for my first novel to be published and ten years for Dream or Destiny.

Never give up.

Thanks again Lillie for taking the time to share your insights into and experience of the publishing process.

Those were the questions that I’d been itching to ask.

You might have others: please feel free to ask away in the comment box.  Lillie will be around to answer questions – though sadly we haven’t (yet) worked out a way for her to sign copies of the book.

Here’s the blurb on Dream or Destiny:

Marilee Anderson dreams about a murder and wakes to find it really happened. She and David Nichols, the victim’s brother, become the prime suspects. Though they have their secrets and aren’t sure they can trust each other, Marilee and David team up to find the killer. Does Tess, “the crazy lady,” know anything about the murder or is she just delusional? Does the cheating couple on the victim’s floor have any information about the night of the crime? Why has the abusive father of the victim and her brother suddenly reappeared? What about Barbara’s ex-husband? Will Marilee and David find the killer? Or will they end up in jail—or dead?

Read an excerpt (pdf file)

“Lillie Ammann’s unique talent brings her characters to life in this tension filled suspense. From the first paragraph she’ll have your heart racing as Marilee’s nightmare takes over her life and changes it forever.” ~ Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, author of A Time to Dance

“Lillie Ammann has written more than a book about two people trying to solve a crime. She delves into the effects of grief and guilt, attraction and suspicion, compassion and evil. “ ~ Helen Ginger, Freelance editor, book consultant, writer, and speaker

What others are saying about the book

PS You can buy copies of Dream or Destiny at Amazon

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