Guest Blogger ~ Kristin Billerbeck

Kristin Billerbeck is the author of twenty novels, including What a Girl Wants, An Unbreakable Hope and She's Out of Control. A graduate of San Jose State University, Kristin majored in Advertising. She now resides in California with her husband and four children.








I think this blog is so aptly named Novel journey...because as a writer, it is most definitely a journey and not a destination. Naturally, when you're not published yet, you think it's all about publication.

But then comes this horrible realization: you're not as in it for the money or the kudos, as you once thought. No, you simply love words, love to see them strung together and create your own special world. You have read your favorites again and again, trying to analyze why those books captivate you and when you're finished with your own novel, it still feels woefully problematic.

The accolades are always great, don't get me wrong. I'd rather get a good review than a bad, but writing takes on a life of its own when you've had a small taste of success. Then, it's time to stop and take stock because you realize okay, been there, done that, who cares?

If you care about the accolades, that is just insatiable. You have to write because you must.This week, I had an author get in touch with me through my new church. He was so excited. He's being published, he'd said. "They don't usually publish fiction, but they loved my stuff!"Then, this cringing follow-up, "I'm getting 90% off the 10,000 books I'm buying."

Writers, I'm here to tell you, there is no easy way in this business. You're going to pay your dues one way or the other. On the road there's a lot of rejection, and strife -- but I implore you, don't let the route cost you 10,000 books that you will not be able to unload because you have absolutely no distribution channel.

You're on the narrow path now and it won't be easy.What upset me the most about this conversation (and trust me, he wouldn't hear a thing!) was that this wasn't a writer. A writer takes the long way, they don't want to simply hear they're being published, they need to know it's worthy of being published. They don't think they're getting a new career and quit their day job.

No, they learn about craft, and how to tell a story well because this is what they are called to. I'm not talking about being an "arteest". I mean, I write chick lit, for crying out loud. I'm talking about taking the gift that God has given you, and making the most of it. Not trying to make the most of you.

Humility is essential in this business. A dose of humble pie is coming your way. May you eat it with zeal, and keep on plugging away.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Phil 3:12


Released April 18th

Morgan Malliard, jewelry heiress and San Francisco socialite has just realized the unthinkable: money can't buy her a life.
Click here to see a video trailer of this book.