Into the Fire

This is as important in publishing as it is in any field where influence opens doors. It is more often than not who you know in the biz that gets those tough doors to open for you. 

Let's take the thriller genre. Who's one of the main publishers of some of the best thrillers produced by now famous authors? If you know the publisher I'm referring to, you will also note that those authors represented by this publisher will be endorsed by the other thriller writers in that stable – writing the blurbs for their fellow authors' book jackets, etc. Many of them have a testimony that points to other successful authors suggesting their manuscripts to their "people, agents, publishers" to get noticed and highly recommended.

It's just a part of doing business. Because of two authors who once mentioned me to a top literary agency, I made it to the final call with one of my novels before the "Sorry" arrived. 

Anyone who's read a plethora of published novels is aware that not all of them are good books. That's just a fact. One person's gem of a story is another's 1-star review. It's a fair posit to make that there are some publishing houses who consistently produce the best fiction. With years of book production and author promotion under their umbrellas of successful bestsellers, they know what they want and who to go to to get it. So, if as a new author, you are connected to someone in their stable who believes in you, that door is at the least opened up a crack to see that light in the room. 

For independent/vanity press authors, it's still who you know. If fellow authors don't pitch in with their endorsements, website mentions, blog posts/interviews, social media in general, and/or newsletter references to your work – even when you do that for them – it's hard to break into the "noticed" scene. Sometimes all the hard work doesn't pay off. That's just a fact in the hardcore realm of publishing when you're competing with thousands of other authors. 

So. Having given you the practical side of the biz, there's this factor which really surpasses all the technical information. When the One you know is Jesus, you have an important source for your directions. Designed for you, a personal path, but with a goal you might not see coming, He's the true Author of your life. Trust Him with all your frustrations, disappointments, and your successes. His plans for you are always the best even when we struggle to understand them. 

It IS who you know. 

Father, you are the benevolent One who showers us with love, grace, and mercy. Please help each one of us to be the one you designed us to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.