A couple recent blog posts from my fellow InspyRomance authors have inspired me to share this story. Specifically, Milla Holt’s post Back to the 90s. And Jaycee Weaver’s It’s Complicated. How Authors Really Feel About Their First Manuscript.
I had a finished manuscript. Now, what was I going to do with it? I was going to try to find a publisher! And this was in the late 1990s so there wasn’t really an internet to help me locate one.
I visited my local bookstore and found the section for helping writers find publishers for their work. (Yes, there was that section.) I bought a big resource book called The Writers Market. Eventually, I came across a publisher that seemed like a hit: no agent necessary, word count was fine, it was a small press. A good place to start my publishing career, I thought. In their short write up, something else caught my eye: “We’re looking for characters who go through life-changing events who will inspire our readers to go along with them.”
I stared at those words, knowing they were speaking to me. Thank you, God, I whispered and raced home. Cassie, my heroine in Whispers of the Heart, went through many life-changing events, and just the act of writing the book had sent me through my own life-changing event of becoming a writer.
In the year 1999, the publishing world was still in the dark ages technologically. I followed all the instructions listed in the Writers Market about what this publisher wanted to see in my submission: a cover letter, a curriculum vitae (I had no idea what this was but researched it – it was basically a career summary or resume), a marketing plan for the book if it was accepted for publication, a five-page synopsis AND the entire printed manuscript. Whoa. It was a lot of work to put all that together, and a lot of expense to print it all out and to mail. But I did it, in early summer, my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.
They’d also asked for an email address with which to communicate with me, but I didn’t have a personal one. (Can you imagine anyone now not having an email address??) I had email at work, but my company was very restrictive about using your work email for personal business. I was stumped, momentarily.
My parents had email through an early technology called WebTV: there was a modem of sorts and a keyboard which you hooked up to your TV. When you turned it on, you could access your email Inbox on your TV screen. I went ahead and provided their email address to the publisher and warned my mother to keep her eye out for any communications from them.
Every year in January my parents left Illinois and “snowbird” to Gulf Shores, Alabama for three months. They left me their key and asked me to go over once a week to water the plants, run the water and make sure their pipes hadn’t frozen. One cold day in mid-January, I stopped by and of course, while I was there I turned on their WebTV. By this point it had been eight months since I’d sent the thick submission packet, and I hadn’t heard a word.
Nope, nothing again. I shut everything down and left. But what I didn’t realize was that I dropped their key while I was getting into my car. A week later it was time to go over and check again, and I couldn’t find the key. I looked everywhere! In my coat pocket, all through my purse, in my car, underneath the seat. Where could it be? Not only would I not be able to check the house, I couldn’t check the WebTV! Besides, it had snowed that week and I needed to check the water pipes! But no, I stayed home.
Four days later, I received an unusual phone call. It was the sheriff’s office of my parents’ township. He was calling me (my parents’ emergency contact) to report that he’d found a key sitting on their driveway. The snow had melted, and it was now exposed. I raced over there and retrieved the key, thanking him profusely. I ran into the house and did a check. The pipes were all fine and the house looked good. Then, I turned on the Web TV.
As the Inbox populated, my eyes went wide. The publisher had sent an email. No, they sent two emails. No wait! They sent three! All during the last week that I was locked out of my parents’ house! As I clicked on the latest one, I reasoned with myself, if it was a rejection, they wouldn’t send three emails. Just one would suffice. This had to be good news.
But when the most recent of the three opened, my heart stopped and I screamed. “We have not heard from you in regard to our last two emails, so we have to assume you are not interested in the publishing contract we’ve extended.”
What? What? I maneuvered to the first one and opened it. Yes! It was an offer to publish Whispers of the Heart! They loved it! They wanted to publish it! They gave a deadline to respond to them and it was … yesterday!
The second email was a repeat of the offer and the deadline.
I immediately hit Reply and tried to succinctly and professionally explain that I had been having technical difficulties and I apologized for my delay, but I assured them that I certainly was interested in the publishing contract, and I hoped I wasn’t too late.
Then, I printed my email and took it right to the post office, where I paid for overnight shipping. It would be in the editor’s hands tomorrow. I prayed I’d done enough, and they wouldn’t rescind the offer.
As it turned out … all was well. They took me on as an author and the rest is history.
In order to celebrate that first book, written 25 years ago (!!) and long since out of print, I’d like to gift one commenter with my most recent book – a 2023 Illumination Award silver medalist! – my 28th published book – Her Secret Desire. This giveaway is open to all readers, including international and I will draw the random winner on March 7. I’ll send the winner a link to the ebook to be read on the ereader of your choice. Please comment with your favorite story of how technology has changed and what used to be hard and is now easy due to the expansive use of technology in your life! (Or maybe something that used to be easy that is now hard …)
**Heartwarming, life-changing Christian fiction.** An award-winning author, Laurie is living her dream life at the beach, writing novels. Laurie writes beachy inspirational romance that takes place in the South Carolina Low Country. She retired from the big day job and now focuses on writing full time. Strolls on the sand, soaking up the sun and riding the waves can be considered the best kind of research.
What an incredible story! I love that.
Food is on my mind right now, and one thing technology has made easier is finding recipes. I’ve got picky eaters in my home, and they’re all picky about different things, so I often look online for ideas for dinners that everyone will eat.
We live thirty miles from the nearest village and no couriers would even deliver until about 2016. The nearest post office was that long trek down the mountain and I had volunteered to send out books around the country for a German mission. What a difference now! I make out the waybill on line and the order is collected almost immediately..
Such an inspiring story. So happy the key was discovered in time.
Reading technology has changed. All those years ago there were only print books. Without technology I’d be missing out on reading until after cataract surgery. Love the backlighting!
That is a great story, I’m so glad they understood about the technology and didn’t insist on the deadline!
I can remember shoe shopping when I was younger meaning a whole day in a busy shopping centre for my mum and us children, going from shop to shop, hoping they had the right size and never finding quite what we wanted. During the pandemic I got measure for my kids feet so I could do it at home, so when my eldest needed school shoes this week we just measured his new size, looked online, got two options he liked, checked the fit at home and sent back the one that didn’t fit so well. All so quick and easy, with no shoe shopping time with grumpy toddlers!
I live over 2 hours away from my parents. Technology has allowed me to have things sent to their house when needed from the drugstore or anywhere else. It has been a blessing since I cannot drive up there every week. It’s also allowed me to send pictures to them of their grandchildren.
I really enjoy that I can schedule and pay my bills online. I can also scan and email important paperwork to people instead of mailing it.
I love having technology. I have a harder time getting used to upgrades or when a certain social media change their format. I even get frustrated when blogs I visit often, think they have improved and I have to learn how to navigate them all over again.
Oh yes, great example! I like to watch cooking shows and if the host cooks something that looks good I’ll immediately locate the recipe online and email it to myself! Easy peasy!
Wow! I can’t imagine a location without daily mail service! Yes now online shopping and shipping makes life much easier!!
Thank you Dianne! Yes ebook reading was a game changer! I remember having to leave room for 3 or 4 books in my suitcase when packing for a beach vacation! Now i slip my Kindle, along with hundreds of books into my purse!
Great job! Although I do a lot of clothes shopping online I haven’t yet tried for items that require me to try them on — shoes being one. I’m glad you’ve found the return process super simple too!
Oh that’s wonderful! And I bet your parents feel much more part of the family’s daily events despite the distance! Personally I love having video calls with my grandbaby who lives across the country because he changes so fast! And he recognizes our faces and voices on the screen.
Yes! I finally tried online bill pay last year and now use it monthly. Especially since postage stamps are now up to, what, 63 cents??
Yes, it’s one of the challenges of technology – it evolves quickly, resulting in losing features you loved and having to relearn what used to come naturally.
What a great story! The Lord is so good!! Technology has helped me in staying in contact with my Mother even when I go to the store. This has helped her to be not so worried about me.
Hi Laurie! A few examples of technology in my life. As a 1950s immigrant from Germany to the USA, the only way to community with my German Omas and relatives was thru snail mail. In the late 1970s we finally could make phone calls, but that was very expensive. While living in Chicago my parents communicated with my sons through biweekly phone calls. Now with my youngest granddaughter we have weekly FaceTime chats. Definitely a change.
I also enjoy the ease of eBooks, which are with me always on either my tablet or cell phone. I most of my bills on line. Do my banking on line – move money between different accounts. Yesterday hubby and I paid off our house mortgage with a phone call, email, and banking on line. Modern technology is a blessing. Best wishes. Enjoy your weekend.
This is such a cool story–thank you for sharing!
Wow! What a story/testimony! So glad it all worked out :)
For me, it’d be music. It’s kinda funny to think of how much time we’d take downloading songs (or making the effort to record them from the radio), only for it all to be available on Spotify and Youtube today. :)
Thank you! Yes it’s so easy to stay in touch now. I often tell my kids, “Text me when you get there so I won’t worry!”
Well you have adjusted very well to the technology age! I’m very impressed! And remember when long distance phone calls would cost extra on the phone bills? My parents would limit calls to their out of town relatives to 15 minutes! You had to talk fast!
Hi Christina! Thank you and you’re welcome!
Great story!! Technology for somethings is so nice, like when you need to type something, especially a book! All of the corrections are easy on the computer, vs having to retype every single page on a typewriter!!! And corrections! No more correction fluid, no more erasing with an old eraser and almost making a hole! Not good, all of the spam in your email, all of the hoaxes and scammers. When I first started working in medical offices in the 80’s, the computer and keyboard were all one piece, too.
Oh yes! When Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 came on I’d place my old fashione tape recorder in front of the radio and tape the whole thing! In the background you could hear my family members talking and “ssshhhhhushing” them!
Hi Trudy! Oh yes!! Whiteout and correction fluid and onionskin typing paper! It must’ve been so difficult writing a book without a computer program to easily delete and move things around!
As my grandpa needs 24 hours 24 hour care my aunt’s can send out the schedule and we can let them know if it works or not.after the paramedic my mom started doing most of her shopping online and she got discusted b by how many people steal so she kinda stopped shopping in stores only if she has to go she will but she mostly buys online and if it doesn’t fit she returns it.
I love how easily I can see and talk to my family that lives out of state! I don’t love how easy it is to not plan visits and such because of that.
Online shopping can certainly be convenient especially since it replaces the need to go out!
I absolutely agree. I love how easy technology makes staying in touch but in person visits are still my #1 favorite!
Hi Laurie, I am so happy to hear that it all worked out for you. Technology is great , I get to visit more with my family that way. I am very thankful for technology . I am not tech savvy at all, but I know how to do what I need to do. (not entering your great sounding book giveaway, as I don’t read ebooks at all, but Thank you) Have a great weekend.
Hi Alicia! I’m glad you’ve discovered the technology examples that help make life easier without causing frustration! 😄
Yep. When engaged to hubby in 1972 I paid for a phone plane a nickel a minute for long distance phone calls in our state between 7 pm and 7 am. My parents called overseas during those hours because it was cheaper and overseas calls were limited to u der 15 minutes.
I love how I can shop online. In the past, you physically went to the store to shop. Then you could order through a catalog. That took days for the order to arrive at the merchants, then be processed, and finally be shipped. Now you can order online and get it the next day. Love it!!
I have to add, over 50 years ago I worked for a company as a keypuncher. Does anyone even know what that is?
shopping online
Such a great story Thanks for sharing no entry as I don’t do ebooks
Such a great story Thanks for sharing !
I agree on the shopping! As a bonus you get the excitement of packages being delivered and opening them up!
I’m not entirely sure what a keypuncher was. Did it involve the telephone operator?
Yes! So convenient.
Oh you’re welcome Satah. My pleasure!
Keypunching was a form of computer input. The operator would type on a keyboard. As they typed, holes were punched into a card about the size of a regular envelop. The cards were then fed into a computer. That is a pretty simplified version.
I remember having to do reports and term papers for school. I would have to go to the library, use the card index to find the book and research from there. Now, you can find almost anything on the internet. Thank you for sharing. Happy book anniversary!! God bless you.
Loved your story and was glad it worked out! I met my husband through the internet (we had 2 friends who were friends with each other, and one gave my husband my e-mail address) and we’ve been married almost 20 years, so I’m thankful for technology.
Yes! Now that you mention it I’ve heard stories of the primitive type of computer programming!! 🤣
Yes! And use the Dewey Decimal System to locate materials. And some of them were on microfiche! Ohhh my kids would never believe it!
Yes how wonderful that technology helped you locate the love of your life!
Thanks to technology I can know which books I would like to read and not go blindly. When I was a kid middle grade fiction didn’t have swear words or sex or bad values, the YA books could be a bit more daring but they had like a single 3 line sex scene in the 3rd book of the trilogy and generally had no content very objectionable. I would just go to the bookstore and choose a book whose cover I liked and the synopsis was interesting, then I would take it home and immerse myself in the world without knowing much about the story but every time I found great things and suitable for my age. ..that lasted until I was 14 years old, then I started reading classics and at 17 the sexually charged new adult had already exploded.
Technology allowed me to know that Christian fiction existed even if it did not reach my country, I can be part of communities of Christian fiction, speculative fantasy, clean romance, clean fantasy, Christian romance etc! a whole world that I don’t have in my country, I can choose what to read, see book reviews. Several times it has saved me from ending up with a popular book but nowhere does it tell you that it is a lesbian romance! Of course with all those pages like wattpad for beginning writers it’s easier to make a name for yourself and practice your writing, I just wish there was a site for Christian/speculative stories! Being honest, it’s hard to find readers for Christian stories of any subgenre on pages as general as that!
Especially when many of the most famous stories to come out of it are the antithesis of pure, clean and godly.
Wow! What a story! Technology has allowed me to connect with friends that live far away. I can talk to them at the drop of a hat through my phone
I use to use the Library to use the computer and email. I got on like at home only about a month before 9/11.
But probably one thing was I never had a cell phone til Nov 2008. Mum had had a fall and was in the city for surgery. I had given permission for the surgery as I had power of attorney. On the Sunday they were doing the surgery I said do you have all you need from me and said where I would be til x oclock. she was going in at 8am. Well they finally rang my brother to get permission but it meant the surgery was delayed. The next morning I said is it all signed off and they said yes. I said i will be at the residence all day. Well again they lost the permission and rang family. they decided I needed a mobile/cell phone and got it early for Christmas.
Yes, you make great point. Readers have so many options now to join online groups and share book reviews and recommendations.
And I’ll add to your point about “New Adult” which is targeted to older teens. There was a time in my career I thought I’d love to write those type of stories. But … then I read some. And I felt terrible that these stories with sex and profanity and ungodly situations were intended for our young people!
Thank you Angeline! And yes I love how easy it is to stay in touch now. So many options!
Oh wow, you must’ve been so frustrated! I’m glad you got it all worked out and I agree, it was a great impetus for a cell phone.
I know I’m ancient, but….. 😭😂
Oh! It would still be great if you did! It’s a genre that prides itself on being current and down to earth but frankly not all colleges allow their students to behave in such crazy ways and there are plenty of college kids out there who have a healthier college life it would still be great to see examples of a clean new adult or Christian! after all there are already many books for YA.
I am sure that many of you or your children have good university experiences to discuss or give, for example, me and my friends usually hang out talking during free time or meet at someone’s house to play board games and chat, there is liquor and some drink and others, there are love problems and things like that, but everything is much healthier and less exaggerated than in the common of those books. It is also normal in Chile that many of us live at home while we study with our parents, so there is no “out of control loneliness” that is sold.
I really was considering I had given permission at the first hospital then she had to be moved to the city. I signed the forms for the surgeon, but the anesthetist has forms to be signed too. It was more annoying the second time when I went over before she was to go in and asked are you sure they have everything signed that is needed now. and made sure they knew I was in the residence which was on the premises. They just rang the sister in law direct. as it was it was 8 days later that they operated on her. She broke her leg above the knee and needed a rod to stabilize it.
Great story. Glad it all worked out for you in the end. Technology has helped me find answers to questions quickly.
It’s worth thinking about!
Oh me too! I don’t know how many times a day I Google a question and get an instant answer!
Thags quite a story! I’m glad it all worked out for you. One thing that’s become easier because of technology, at least for my work, is being able to log into a company system and check the status of works in progress. I used to have to call and wait on hold to find the information, now I can look it up myself.
You poor thing! That would have given me a heart attack!!!!
eBooks and Audiobooks :)