We welcome back L.A. Sartor to Thyme for Writers! When I learned about L.A.’s journey in becoming a successful author, I asked that she share it for our readers, especially since her latest novel, Prince of Granola was just released. Thank you L.A. for your lessons, inspiration, and gifts!
I started writing as a child, really. A few things happened on the way to becoming a published author … a junior high school teacher who told me I couldn’t write because I didn’t want to study … urk … grammar. I went to college, moved a few times, came home and found the love of my life (that is another novel worthy story, but for later), and got married.
We were super busy with our respective careers, mine a custom jewelry business with my mom, who was also teaching metalsmithing at the time, and my husband a crazy law career. We had two fur babies, Fudge (and briefly her brother Smudge, but sadly he didn’t live very long) and Two. Our cats would sleep with us and when they’d stretch out to their full length, we’d end up sleeping on the edge of the mattress.
I have always been a voracious reader and one night after throwing a particularly bad book at the wall (even putting a small ding in said wall), I realized that I could do better. I told my husband, and he said go for it. I called Mom and she revealed the junior high teacher story and she told I’d been writing all the time up to that point.
That blew me away. I didn’t remember any of it. But I started writing again, nearly the next day, pen and paper, learning, making mistakes, winning contests, nearly getting an agent, becoming disenchanted with the publishing industry and moving away from novel writing to screenwriting, getting a contract for a script and doing really well in screenwriting contests.
But none of that was making me much money. After numerous scary robbery drills I wanted to move away from my bank job (yes, this is many years later and a lot of stuff in between) and write full time for the green stuff.
My husband told me repeatedly that independent publishing was becoming a valid way to publish a novel and people were making big dollars. I didn’t believe him even after he showed me several Wall Street Journal articles. I thought indie meant vanity press.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I started pursuing this direction seriously, retired from the bank and hit the keyboard, learned a litany of new things and published my first novel. My second book became a bestseller, and while I’m not rolling in dough, I’m absolutely on the right course in my life.
So if you have a dream, pursue it as hard as you can. Life can get in the way, but never give up.
Please come visit me at www.lasartor.com, see my books, some pictures, some screenplays and sign up for my mailing list. I have a gift I’ve specifically created for my new email subscribers. And remember, you can email me at Leslie@LeslieSartor.com
(C) 2018 L.A. Sartor
Links:
Website http://www.lasartor.com
Blog http://www.anindieadventure.blogspot.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Leslie.Ann.Sartor
Facebook author https://www.facebook.com/LASartor.Author
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/@lesannsartor
Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/1e10fkd
Bookbub http://bit.ly/2kdhjkM
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6535151.L_A_Sartor
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/lesann415/boards/
Leslie, I love you story! You threw a book at a wall and declared you could write a better one. And you did! Here’s a quote for you: “I couldn’t find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself.” Ferdinand Porsche
Love the quote!
I love that quote, I’d forgotten it.
Wonderful story, Leslie. I firmly believe that we should never stop dreaming and — just as importantly — never stop trying to make those dreams come true.
I do too Amanda. You can see why I told Leslie that her new bio needed to stand alone!
I love that quote, I’d forgotten it.
Thank you, Karen, for posting this, I was really quite surprised you thought my journey should be a stand-alone post. One of the interesting parts to me was that the teacher apparently so traumatized me so that I had no recall of being so interested in writing until Mom told me. I asked her why she didn’t tell me later before my ding-in-the-wall incident, and her answer was that she felt I’d come back to it eventually and any added pressure to force it could be worse.
So I’ve had incredible support and equally detrimental forces in my writing life (lots of other stories to tell and I bet we all have them). I did nearly give up in this latest journey as one person who I thought of as a mentor … wasn’t. But my husband said the choice was mine (thank you Gary) and that alone allowed me to buck up and here I am 🙂
I am so thankful you never gave up. We have all learned from your journey. Thank you!
Leslie, fun to read your article. Good way to acquaint people with your great work between the book covers that draw you in. I’m so glad you stayed with the program. Cheers
I’m glad you stayed with the program as well!
Leslie, great Article! I particularly love the story of your journey and so glad you made it! Godspeed! Donna