@JennyLCote

Memorize this right now: This is MY doing. (I Kings 12:24)

So far we’ve explored why we write. And we’re willing to write even if no one will ever read it, Soli Deo Gloria. All that’s left is to let God call the shots from here. I’m about to let you in on a secret about publishing that is going to liberate your mind, your spirit and your pen, and you’re going to end up trusting the closed doors as much as the open ones.

Twelve years ago I was preparing for my very first writer’s conference: BRMCWC. I was a rookie. I had no idea what I was doing. My background was marketing and strategic planning for a children’s hospital. I didn’t know anything about publishing other than what I had experienced with self-publishing my very first book, a devotional. But now I was ready to hit the big leagues. I was ready to find a traditional publisher for my children’s historic fiction book. I asked God to show me exactly what to do. “This is your book, God, not mine. Please call the shots, and show me what to do.”

So God soon led literary agent Mary Busha to visit my church. She saw my self-published book sitting on the church bookstore shelf and approached me.I didn’t have to do a thing. Mary got busy identifying potential publishers for The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud.“ I think AMG Publishers would be a good fit with their successful YA imprint called Living Ink. I want you to meet with Dan Penwell at Blue Ridge and I’ll send him a note about you beforehand. But set up as many appointments with other publishers as you can. You’ll need to show them a book proposal.”

“What’s a book proposal?”

Mary told me to include an outline, three sample chapters and a marketing plan. My ears perked up. “Marketing plan? That’s what I know how to do.” So I got busy and worked hard to write a slick piece. I even had my son design a cool concept four-color book cover that I had professionally printed to slip into nice presentation folders along with matching business cards. I packed my little bags and headed to Ridgecrest.

On the way up, I had a chat with God. “I need to do a fleece thing. Because I want to be 100% sure that whoever I’m supposed to partner with on my Max and Liz books is Your choice, please help me to know by letting them ‘get it’ immediately. I won’t even have to whip out my marketing plan before I see they’re hooked on the concept. I’ll see their faces and know they are ‘the chosen ones.’ ”

First thing after checking in I headed to the appointment sign-up sheets. I would meet with Dan from AMG first. Dan was actually teaching a class on how to do book proposals, so I thought I’d attend that later in the conference. On Monday, I plopped down across from Dan for my fifteen minute slot, and as I gave him the elevator pitch for my book, I could see the drool coming out of his mouth. “Got him!” I giddily thought. I handed over the proposal and he said he’d share it with his team. Yay! My very first publisher encounter went swimmingly.

I moved on to other appointments, and while some were excited, no one else drooled like Dan. Understand that this entire match-making process is a dating game. Publishers are looking for a marketable author as well as a good book. Be bold and show them you’re willing to get out there and sell books.

I couldn’t make Dan’s class because I had an appointment, but someone told me that he held up my proposal as an example of how to write a book proposal, so I figured I didn’t need to go after all.

After the conference, we had nine other publishers reviewing my proposals. Although Dan wanted the book, it would be fall before I would get a contract. I asked God to please let me get a REJECTION from each one before I signed a contract. I wanted to know without a doubt that AMG was His choice.

So as the reject letters came in, I exclaimed, “YES! Bless their hearts; they’re not the chosen ones.” Here’s the secret to remove your anxiety about this entire process:

If you ask God to choose your publisher, when you get rejected, it’s not them rejecting you. It’s God rejecting them.

God gives the best to those who leave the choice up to Him. So let Him shut every door but the right one.  Remember: This is MY doing. Trust Him to lead you to your drooling publisher. And for those who reject you, memorize this: “Bless their hearts; they’re not the chosen ones.”

Award-winning author and speaker Jenny L. Cote, who developed an early passion for God, history, and young people, beautifully blends these three passions in her two fantasy fiction series, The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz® and Epic Order of the Seven®. Likened to C. S. Lewis by readers and book reviewers alike, she speaks on creative writing to schools, universities and conferences around the world. Jenny has a passion for making history fun for kids of all ages, instilling in them a desire to discover their part in HIStory. Her love for research has taken her to most Revolutionary sites in the U.S., to London (with unprecedented access to Handel House Museum to write in Handel’s composing room), Oxford (to stay in the home of C. S. Lewis, ‘the Kilns’, and interview Lewis’ secretary, Walter Hooper at the Inklings’ famed The Eagle and Child Pub), Paris, Normandy, Rome, Israel, and Egypt. She partnered with the National Park Service to produce Epic Patriot Camp, a summer writing camp at Revolutionary parks to excite kids about history, research and writing. Her books inspired a VBS Curriculum, Heroes of HIStorywith original music, animation and scripts. Jenny’s books are available online and in stores around the world, as well as in e-book and audio formats. Jenny has been featured by FOX NEWS on Fox & Friends and local Fox Affiliates, as well as numerous Op-Ed pieces on FoxNews.com. She has also been interviewed by nationally syndicated radio and print media, as well as international publications. Jenny holds two marketing degrees from the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. A Virginia native, Jenny now lives in Roswell, Georgia. Learn more about Jenny and her books at www.epicorderoftheseven.com.