TGIF, WG2E-Land!!!
Wowsers…are we all in for a HUGE treat…
I’m thrilled to announce our newest
WG2E Team Member…
Bestselling Indie Epub Author
and now an
Amazon Thomas & Mercer Author too…
Theresa Ragan grew up in Lafayette, California, as number four of five sisters. She and her husband, Joe, have been happily married for over 25 years. They have four children and currently reside in Sacramento, California.
After reading her first romance, Theresa knew exactly what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. When the kids were small, she wrote early in the morning, late at night, and in the car while waiting for the kids to get out of school. In 2011 Theresa self-published her medieval time travel romance, Return of the Rose. Since that time she has released a total of seven novels and has sold nearly 300,000 ebooks in a little over a year. She has been mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, PC Magazine, Jeff Bezos’ annual letter to shareholders and Publishers Weekly. She will be speaking on a panel at the BEA in New York in June, 2012, and has recently signed her first publishing agreement with Thomas & Mercer, an Amazon imprint.
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Hello WG2E readers! I am happy to be here and I feel very lucky to have been invited to be a part of WG2E. I have been following this site since I became an Indie author over a year ago. D.D. has asked me to tell everyone about my Indie epub journey, so here goes!
Nineteen years ago, on leave of absence from work and pregnant with my fourth and last child, I read my first romance novel, A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux, and I was blown away. For a few hours I had been taken to an exciting world filled with romance and adventure. I had always loved to write, mostly poems and in a journal, but the minute I finished reading that book, I knew I wanted to write my own story in hopes of providing a few hours of escapism for women just like me.
I grabbed a notepad and started writing down ideas. I had no idea what I was doing. I spent a lot of time at the library since Google didn’t exist (that I know of) and I didn’t have a computer. I began to read like crazy, trying to analyze what other authors had done. I filled up a huge binder with endless notes. [Nora Roberts has been quoted as saying, “You can fix a bad page, but you can’t fix a blank page.” I love that saying and I still think of it often. I believe writer’s block stems from writers trying to be perfect. Don’t worry about grammar and commas, just write, let the story out and then come back later and make it SHINE!] Okay, back to my writing journey…five years after I set out to write a book, I finished writing my first novel, Return of the Rose.
After receiving my first rejection, I joined Romance Writers of America and was thrilled to discover there were other people just like me–people whose heads were filled with scenes and characters. I learned more in my first year with RWA than I had learned in five years on my own. I joined critique groups and I attended conferences all over the U.S. I signed with two agents over the years and I worked with a few editors, too. I had heard that if you finaled in the Golden Heart you were practically guaranteed to publish! I garnered SIX Golden Heart nominations, but I still couldn’t make a sale. In March, 2011, that baby I was about to have at the beginning of my journey was going off to college. In a down economy, I needed a real job that would pay real money. I was literally looking through the Want Ads for a job when I decided to self-publish because I had nothing to lose. Hoping to sell a few dozen books, I was stunned when I began to sell hundreds and then thousands of books. I’m still pinching myself.
In my first year as an indie author I have sold over 250,000 ebooks. Many people have asked me what I did to sell that many books. What works for one author, won’t always work for another, but this is what I did…for the first three months, twenty-four-seven, I worked on marketing and promotion. Every day I sent out requests for reviews and interviews. I did a blog tour, I blogged everywhere I could. I started a Twitter and FB account. I made a website. I made video trailers for my books. I was exhausted, but I was motivated by the sales and especially by the emails I was receiving from readers. For the first time in nearly two decades, I had READERS!
My Lizzy Gardner series by T.R. Ragan has done very well. I wrote Abducted at a time when I was incredibly frustrated with not selling to New York. I had worked hard to learn my craft. I was doing everything right, but luck was not on my side. I put aside my romance novels and decided that a few characters were going to pay with their lives. Writing my first thriller was therapeutic for me. The process helped me rediscover my love for writing. I let it all hang out. I wasn’t writing Abducted for an editor or an agent. I was writing it for me.
Abducted hit the Top 100 All Paid 100 List twice. The second time it hit #5 of ALL kindle Ebooks and that’s when I started getting emails from publishers and agents. On March 27, 2012, I signed my very first publishing agreement with Thomas & Mercer, an Amazon imprint. That’s just one of the things I LOVE about self-publishing. It’s not the end, it’s the beginning! I am working with an editor for the first time. The covers for Abducted and Dead Weight are being redesigned and I have already made requested edits to both books. They will be re-released on July 10, 2012. The third book in the series will be out at the end of 2012. I have my first “real” deadline and I love it! I’m having the time of my life.
After struggling for so long, it’s difficult NOT to be grateful. That’s why I am going to enjoy every moment of my writing journey. I decided early on that I was going to be positive, help others, and say YES whenever possible. I have admittedly turned down a few requests, but not many. That’s why, when Amazon called and asked if I would be interested in speaking at a few events, I didn’t hesitate to say YES. I was SUPER shy growing up. I even had a difficult time stepping up on stage to practice for the Golden Heart Rehearsals not too long ago. I remember Brenda Novak introducing me to her editor at an RWA conference and I froze. Nothing came out of my mouth. NOT ONE WORD. But in three weeks I’ll be speaking to a crowd of hundreds at the BEA in New York. What a difference a year makes, right? It is one thing to type away on a keyboard, it’s quite another to talk publically to a large crowd. Wish me luck!
I will be blogging once a month here at WG2E. I will post about how self-publishing has literally changed my life; How I spend my advertising dollars; My experience at the BEA in New York; Working with an editor and negotiating my own publishing contract.
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: Let me know if there are certain topics you would like me to talk about.
Thank you! — Theresa Ragan
Glad to see you here, Theresa. I look forward to anything you will share concerning your experience with Thomas & Mercer!
Hi Dale! Thanks for the nice words and the kind welcome. I am so happy to be here!
Huge congrats, Theresa! Very inspiring
Hi Sibel, thanks!
Good luck with the talk. I know what you mean about being shy to talk out. I was like that at school, and when I did talk my heart banged inside of me. But I do find now that the times I talk out best is when I am talking about writing, and esp when it’s about my own writing.
Julie, thanks for that. I think you’re right about that. I know what I’m doing now…at least I know what I’m doing is actually working, so I feel confident and passionate, so I have a lot to say. If anything, the moderator might need to shut me up.
Welcome and Congratulations on your Thomas & Mercer deal
I look forward to reading your monthly posts:)
Thanks for the congrats Lois and for taking the time to comment this morning. I hope I can come up with something useful to talk about each month. I am so excited to be a part of the WG2E. Fun!
Thanks for sharing your story, Theresa! Wow – what a difference a year can make – you’re right! Best of luck moving forward.
Thanks, Tamara, I hope 2012 is great for all indie authors. We can do it!
Wow! Terrific story! I’m sure you’ll do great at BEA!
Ahhh, thanks for the vote of confidence, Laura!
Wow! What a great story!
Welcome, Theresa, and congratulations. I’m looking forward to your posts.
Thanks, Ruth. My middle name is Ruth! It’s nice to meet you.
Great story. Welcome to the T&M group. I look forward to reading your book and meeting you.
Thanks, Traci. Thanks for the welcome. I can’t wait to meet you!
Great to see you here, Theresa! I sooo enjoyed our Reader2Author Interview with Emmy. Your journey is a truly inspiring one. Good luck at BEA!
Hi Alicia, you made doing that interview so fun and easy and exciting. I can’t thank you enough for that. It was a very enjoyable experience. What a great idea, too! Thanks for everything.
An inspiring story, Theresa. Somebody should write a book or make a film about it… I’m looking forward to your next post.
The very best of luck with Abducted.
Thank you so much, Alison!
Inspiring post, Theresa! So encouraging to hear of your success~especially the part about learning your craft from the ground up. That’s me! Good success to you!
~Nancy Jill Thames
“Queen of Afternoon Tea”
Thanks, Nancy. I want to hear about your story. When I was writing over the years and many of my writer friends were selling, I really started to believe I was the only one who couldn’t get published…but I’m hearing more and more stories about people like me who struggled for over 15 years. The first two lessons I learned when I joined RWA was POV and SHOW don’t TELL.
Wishing you mega success, Nancy!
Theresa has always a model of all that’s best in the indie world – sharing and saying yes. Proof that good things do happen to good people
You are way too nice, Louise. Thank you for the nice comment.
“Nineteen years ago…In March, 2011, that baby I was about to have at the beginning of my journey was going off to college…I decided to self-publish” -
congrats! i love these overnight success stories
lookin’ fwd to your future posts
best wishes theresa & continued joy
LOL, Adan. Thanks for the best wishes and the continued JOY!
You’re an inspiration! I’m looking forward to your posts, just like I love your blog and your books! Have fun at BEA
Thanks, Steena, you have always been very encouraging and supportive. Thank you for that!
Fascinating story, Theresa, and sooo darn inspiring too!
Huge ol’ Welcomes to our WG2E Team! We’re thrilled you’ve joined us and can’t wait to share your Epublishing Adventures!!!
Cheers, my friend!!!
P.S. I can’t wait to hear all about your Thomas & Mercer negotiations
D.D., talk about inspiring! It’s amazing to see all that you’ve done for indie authors. This is the site I came to from the very beginning. I learned about kindle boards here, etc., etc. THANK YOU! And thank you for inviting me to share with all of you.
I am very excited to talk about the negotiations. Surreal.
Welcome, Theresa! It’s so exciting to have you here. This group is simply amazing, so you’ll fit right in!
Best of luck at the BEA!
Ahhh, thanks, Greg! I will need all of the luck I can get at BEA. As long as I don’t clam up, I should be okay…fingers crossed.
Way to go, Theresa! Good luck–I can’t wait to read your books!
Thanks, Dee!
Wow. What a journey Theresa! Congratulations. You give me hope. I’m looking forward to your posts.
Thanks, Nana. It looks like you’re doing just fine! Sexy in Stilettos looks like a fun book!
I’m so glad to know we’ll be hearing from you regularly. I’m reading Finding Kate Huntley and loving it!
You said, “I am working with an editor for the first time’”, but clearly your books have been well edited, I’m assuming by a professional editor. Maybe you could clarify that for me.
Wishing you all the best at the BEA in New York!
Thanks, Debra. Yes, to clarify, I have lots of BETA readers and I am very lucky to have so many family members who have degrees in english literature and jobs in the field and they read my books first. And then I pay a proofreader/copy editor too!
And I’m glad you mentioned this because I don’t think there is a bit of difference…the ONLY difference is in my head. I always thought that once a publisher took over…editing magic would happen, but the truth is, two editors at T&M made very few changes and they said it was already well edited. So thanks for pointing that out. It’s just nice that I don’t have to pay for the editing…they pay me! yay!
Thanks for wishing me luck at the BEA, too!
Congrats to you….awesome story…..keep up the great writing! Welcome to the WG2E!
Thanks, Jeanne!
Congratulations on your success and your new adventure with Thomas & Mercer! I’m super excited to read about your marketing and advertising experience as well as your contract negotiations. Welcome!
Hi Christy! Thanks for the welcome. I am super thrilled to talk about everything that has happened in the past year. What a crazy whirlwind of events. Exhausting, exciting, crazy. I wake up every morning and think to myself IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING. I do think that TIMING and LUCK had a lot to do with my success so far. Once my books began selling, the domino effect took over. More sales created more opportunities. And more opportunities created more sales.
Very inspiring story, Theresa. Congratulations on all your success. I love your books and am looking forward to learning from you.
Thanks, Rhonda!
Theresa, such an exciting ride you are on. I love to “hear” the excitement in your voice about your writing. Looking forward to ‘seeing’ you here.
Thanks, Jill. This is exciting and downright surreal.
Welcome, Theresa!
Great story.
Thanks, David!
Yaaaay, Theresa! I love that success that has finally found your very deserving self, and I tell your story to everyone who asks what’s possible with indie publishing. I hope you have a wonderful time with Thomas & Mercer, too, and that things just keep getting better for you. Your perseverance is an inspiration!
Ahhh, thanks, Cate. Cate is one of two authors talked to before deciding to self-publish. I give Cate a lot of credit for giving me the information I needed to take the plunge!
Very inspiring post, Theresa!! I’m so happy to hear you’re going to be blogging here once a month. I’ll look forward to it. I’d love to know more about your promotional efforts, because we can all see that they have paid off very well. Congrats on all your Uber SUCCESS!!!
Hi Caroline! I will be happy to share my promotional efforts. Thanks for your constant encouragement and support!
Hi Theresa! I’ve been following your journey since last year when a friend of mine, Debra Holland, mentioned you. Very exciting to have such enthusiastic and friendly success stories to follow as I find my own path! Yay for you with all the exciting changes!
Hi Theresa! Thanks for the post. Success stories like yours are always an inspiration and they keep those of us going whose success has been limited (although limited feels like a harsh word in this context) to the feeling of knowing we have put our work out there, and the occasional very satisfying review from an excited reader. Congratulations on all your success and here’s to plenty more.
Thanks for sharing your journey, Theresa. How inspiring! Yours is one more nudge in the indie publishing direction. I look forward to reading your books.