The interesting thing about taking on writing in this part of my career is that it was no real surprise when, after announcing I was going to be a romance writer, I actually did it (after many manuscripts that didn’t work).
Why?
Because I have a history of setting goals and achieving them. Despite huge odds. Despite multiple failures. I’m one of those pig-headed gals who stick with things until she achieves them. Sure, I’ve never been successful at the first go of anything. Never. I no longer expect instant success. I know I will have to try and try again, pushing past failures (some of them downright embarrassing). However, I do eventually get there.
So no one was surprised when I achieved my goal. They were surprised when I made writing romance my goal though. It made no financial sense (dollars usually a quick measurement of value added in the business world). There aren’t many (if any) authors on the Forbes 400 list. In contrast, there are many businessfolks (btw, a billion in net worth won’t put you there, nope, you need more than that). But once I explained the mentorship part of the equation, business friends got it and my business blogging buddies have become some of my biggest supporters.
As for the future, I plan to plug away, writing a novel and novella a year. I told the hubby I’d re-evaluate the writing thing after 5 novels. If I’m on schedule, that’s 2012. I might bump it up a year to 2011 ’cause that’ll be my 40th birthday. I usually do a massive overhaul of my business and financial plans on big birthdays like that. Keeps it fresh.
Would I write something other than contemporary romances set in the business world? Likely not. I love business. I hang with execs and entrepreneurs and other businesspeople. I’m married to a businessman (a salesguy). I read business. I watch it. I play in it. I don’t think I could write a non-businessperson’s POV. Business is a part of me. It is a part of my characters.
It is also what makes me unique. I can’t write Medieval Romances better than Margaret Moore. I can’t write werewolves better than Kelley Armstrong. I can’t write Sci Fi/Fantasy better than Ciara Gold. And I don’t want to. They’re doing a great job. They have happy readers. They don’t need me in the mix.
But I do think there are some readers out there, in the business world, wanting more realistic business heroes and heroines. That’s what I offer to the community.
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