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As I look back on 2011 and think of all that I accomplished and all that I just didn’t get to, I see that the year held a number of “firsts” for me. I consider that to be a good thing. Acknowledging that an achievement is a “first” means that it’s something brand spankin’ new; a fresh challenge; a pushing at my personal boundaries and looking beyond, even if it’s not the easiest option, which is exactly how I’d classify my approach to my writing in 2011.
So here are my “firsts:”
I went Indie. I released my first self-published eBook in August
My sensual medieval romance Dance of Desire was the first full-length manuscript I sold to a publishing house, back in the fall of 2004. It was the first mass market paperback to hit bookstore shelves with my name on the cover (wow!) . I held Dance of Desire in my hands and marveled that, finally, I’d done it: I’d become a published author, as I’d always dreamed.
At the end of 2010, after my former publisher decided to stop printing paperbacks, I got the rights back to this novel and all of my other previously published historical romances. I thought then about reissuing Dance of Desire myself, but this meant learning about formatting and all of the other details. Ugh! My brain just wasn’t ready for that.
It wasn’t until August that I tackled the daunting learning curve and, with the help of my technical genius husband, figured out how to “make it so.” I’m so glad I did. I’m thrilled that Fane and Rexana’s fast-paced, romantic story, which is one of my personal favorites of all the books I’ve written, is available to readers via Kindle and Nook.
I tried a new genre. My first contemporary romantic comedy written as Cate Lord was published.
Earlier this year, I heard about a new, ambitious company called Entangled Publishing. I asked my literary agent to submit the full manuscript of my funny, quirky, Bridget-Jones-esque romantic comedy Lucky Girl, to see if they might be interested. They were.Since the book is very different in tone and style to my historical romances, I decided to use the pen name Cate Lord (Lord is my maiden name). Lucky Girl was released in trade paperback and eBook formats in September. With luck, Cate Lord will have more contemporary book releases in the near future.
I honored my writing roots. The first historical romance novel I ever wrote was reissued in December
Years ago, after reading lots of historical romances, I decided to try penning one. My daughter was a baby then, and I was a stay-at-home mom. While my daughter napped in the afternoons, usually for about 1-1/2 hours, I wrote.
Being swept away from the household chores into a medieval world characterized by treachery, passion, willful damsels, and gorgeous alpha male knights was exciting and, dare I say, addicting. I wrote A Knight’s Vengeance while my daughter grew into a toddler and made strides of her own: she learned to crawl, speak her first words, and walk. I attended the meetings of local writing chapters, entered my work into contests, and researched all I could about the romance novel industry. I joined a critique group.
When I finished Vengeance, I started from page one and revised the manuscript again, and again, improving the characters and story each time. Vengeance sold shortly after Dance of Desire.
Vengeance was my second book published in paperback, but after I offered outlines of follow-on stories, it became the first in my Knight’s Series. To be able to reissue this novel that I consider to be integral to my development as a historical romance author was thrilling and rewarding. It became available on Kindle on December 18.
I plan to release the rest of my Knight’s Series books as self-published eBooks in 2012; another first. I can’t wait to see what new “firsts” 2012 has to offer.
For more information on my books, including the back blurbs and excerpts, please visit my website
What “firsts” did you have in 2011? Any “firsts” you plan to tackle in 2012?
Filed in: Catherine Kean,Jaunty Post
Dec 30th
2011
1:44 am
eli yanti Said:
Hi Catherine,
i’m so excited with your book – a knight’s vengeance, hope i can read it soon
for year 2012, i hope i can add books to read and find a new job
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Dec 30th
2011
4:17 am
Ashley March Said:
Hi Catherine! What an inspiring post! Thank you for sharing all of your “firsts”. =) My big “first” for 2011 was that I attended my first RWA national conference, which was such a blast. I can’t wait to go back next year. =) The big “firsts” I’m anticipating in 2012 are publishing my first self-published books under my new pen name, Elise Rome, as well as supporting my husband as he self-publishes his first upper middle grade novels. Yes, we’re a family of readers and writers. =) Happy New Year!
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Dec 30th
2011
5:43 am
Shana Galen Said:
I guess my firsts were more personal. I spent a few nights away from Baby Galen so I could go to the Romantic Times convention. We moved into a new house, which I love. This is my first house. I’ve lived in others, but this is the first one I helped look for and choose and finance. And I joined a fitness bootcamp–and stuck it out! Here’s to many more firsts in 2012, Catherine.
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Dec 30th
2011
7:42 am
Kristan Higgins Said:
Hmmm. Can’t say that any firsts are leaping to mind for me, Catherine, but it sounds like a great year for you! Oh, here’s one…I had my first ride in an ambulance! It was actually quite fun, because I wasn’t badly hurt. Just enough to warrant the 911 call.
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Dec 30th
2011
8:03 am
Janette Kenny Said:
Congrats, Catherine, on such as awesome year! I can’t think of any amazing firsts for me this year, but I hope to have several in 2012.
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Dec 30th
2011
8:16 am
wendy p Said:
It sounds as if you’ve had an amazing year! 2011 brought me my first grandbaby – a puppy, and I am doing my best to spoil her completely rotten (working!). Maybe 2012 will be the year I get a puppy of my own…we’ll see…
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Dec 30th
2011
12:36 pm
Catherine Kean Said:
Eli, thank you! A KNIGHT’S VENGEANCE is actually FREE today on Kindle (today, 12/30, only). Good luck with the job search; I’m crossing fingers you’ll find the perfect job very soon.
Ashley, wow! Lots of great “firsts” ahead for you and your husband. Congrats.
Shana, that’s a great list of “firsts.” I hope you have many more in 2012.
Kristan! Ouch! I remember hearing about your accident. Hopefully something good came out of that ambulance ride (research for a future bestselling book, maybe???)
Jan, I’m wishing you many wonderful firsts for the New Year.
Wendy P, aww!!! I think you deserve a puppy of your own.
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Dec 30th
2011
2:05 pm
Cindy Kirk Said:
Hi Catherine,
Congrats on all those “firsts” this year. I guess my first would be for the first time since I started writing I’m not also working at a day job. I’m writing full time. And, it’s just as wonderful as I thought it would be!
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Jan 1st
2012
3:59 pm
Kristen Said:
What a fun topic. My first is that I submitted a manuscript I wrote and finaled. This year I’m planning on going to my first RWA conference. Watch out Anaheim, here I come. : )
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