by Kat Martin
I’m sure every author has an interesting tale of how he or she got published. Mine is sort of a merry-go-round story that began when I met my husband, Larry. He had written a Western saga and as we began to date, he asked if I wanted to read it. Being a major reader and beginning to fall in love, I said yes. I loved the book, which was extremely moving and very romantic. It was titled SHADOW OF THE MAST and the odd thing was, he couldn’t sell it.
Since I had read a lot of great books and loved this one, I couldn’t understand why not. (I still have no clue as to how New York publishers actually think.)
After a second reading, I realized there were a number of grammar and spelling errors (no spell-check back then). Since I was good at those things, I decided to help him polish the novel.
By the time I was finished, I was hooked on the idea of writing a book of my own. I chose a Western Romance because I had a western background. My great grandmother came West on a covered wagon; my grandmother was one of the original rodeo cowgirls. I was very familiar with the history of that era and so MAGNIFICENT PASSAGE was born. (I’m happy to say the book is being re-issued for the first time in July of next year.)
Once the book was finished, the journey to publication began. When my hubby puts his mind to something, he’s extremely focused, so he did his do-diligence and researched, by reading the voluminous Literary Marketplace and looking at books on the shelf, to find out who was publishing what.
At the same time, we were attending conferences, going to writing class–a two-hour drive to L.A., and trying to find an agent.
At a conference in Fresno, California, we met a woman who had agreed to read sixty pages of any attendee’s manuscript. We both sent our pages. And the agent took both of us on as clients.
Unfortunately, those manuscripts were both summarily rejected by every publisher in NYC–except, in my case, for the very last place the manuscript was sent. That company bought MAGNIFICENT PASSAGE and made it the lead title for Pageant’s new romance line!
It was a great start for me. During that time, Larry’s manuscript, his second novel, was sitting in the slush pile at Kensington where it had been for nearly a year. It was picked up, read, and purchased. After all the waiting, we were published six weeks apart, which meant we could travel and promote our books together.
Unfortunately for me, the saga continued. My first publisher closed its doors after two of my books were printed and I was out on the street again. Again, I was rejected everywhere.
Totally distraught, at the last possible moment, Berkely picked up the book, CAPTAIN’S BRIDE, and again, I was chosen as a lead title. Even then, it was no easy road. I’ve worked for nearly all the major houses. Some were a real pleasure, others not so much.
I’m really excited about the re-issue of AGAINST THE WIND. I love the new cover and am hoping readers will enjoy Jackson and Sarah’s story. AGAINST THE WIND is the 1st of twelve books in my wildly popular AGAINST SERIES! Its first publication was in January 2011 and hit the prestigious New York Times bestseller list.
AGAINST THE WIND, was a tale inspired by the Toby Keith Country song, How Do You Like Me Now? The moment I heard it, the kernel of an idea popped into my head. A small town high school girl mistreats a boy with a crush on her in front of half the school. In my mind, that boy and girl became Jackson and Sarah, the hero and heroine in the book. Years later, Sarah returns to Wind Canyon in trouble after her failed marriage, and the only person who can keep her and her little girl, Holly, safe is Jackson Raines, the boy–now a man–she humiliated in high school all those years ago.
Hope you will watch for AGAINST THE WIND. Till then, all best wishes and happy reading, Kat
