Achieving a Publishing Dream: A Journey from Writer to Bestselling Author
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Chapter 1: The Unexpected Journey
When life hands you challenges, don’t just cope; use them as stepping stones for growth.
My friend Veronica Llorca-Smith recently shared the exciting news of her first major publishing contract with none other than... drum roll, please... Penguin Random House! This prestigious publisher stands as a leader in the literary world and ranks among the top five largest publishers globally, alongside Hachette, HarperCollins, MacMillan, and Simon & Schuster.
If you've been following my journey, you may recall my interview with Sarah Fay, an author published by HarperCollins. Sarah has always been passionate about writing, but Veronica's path is notably different.
Despite her childhood enjoyment of storytelling, Veronica only began to pursue writing seriously two years ago, well into her forties. At that time, she found herself unemployed, confined at home with her two children in Australia during the COVID pandemic, and feeling disheartened by the job market. One day, while at the Gold Coast beach, she had an epiphany: “I can take control of my situation. I can write a book!”
With that inspiration, she began to write, leading to the creation of "The Lemon Tree Mindset"—a quick, uplifting read that's also available through Kindle Unlimited. Veronica self-published it on Amazon KDP in January 2023.
The core concept? 🍋 When life presents you with lemons, don’t just make lemonade; plant the seeds to cultivate your own lemon tree. 🍋
Initially, she struggled with feelings of impostor syndrome, particularly because her book could be read in just one hour. However, to her astonishment, it quickly climbed the ranks to become an Amazon bestseller. This experience taught her an important lesson: don’t overthink it; just keep writing.
In a remarkable feat, Veronica published four books within a single year!
You might find it hard to believe, but she added three more titles to her repertoire in 2023:
- "Conquering Your Burnout" in May 2023
- "From Zero to Amazon Bestseller" in October 2023
- "The Flight Home" (her first traditionally published work by Earnshaw Books) in December 2023
Isn't that incredible? While I often overanalyze my first book, here’s a powerhouse of a writer releasing four titles in just twelve months!
Section 1.2: Building a Community of Like-Minded Writers
Join a community of 7,000 intelligent and like-minded writers eager to cultivate their mindset and gain inspiration from interviews with emerging talents and established authors alike.
Chapter 2: Conclusion
In this insightful interview, debut author Michael Thompson shares his journey from a single story on Medium to landing a book deal, showcasing the power of perseverance and creativity.