Prolific generation + business-like approach = keys to success
Cheryl
Holt is originally from the Rocky Mountains. She is licensed as
an attorney in Colorado, but I guess she would rather undergo
multiple root canals than return to that profession. "I was
disgusted with that work. Nobody ever goes to see attorneys for
happy reasons," she said. "They only go because they
have to.... they're getting a divorce, going bankrupt, suing or
being sued."
Her husband, Randy Holt is a journeyman electrician. He works
on big jobs like power plants or hydroelectric dams. His work
takes him to multiple job sites, and one day he got a call to
work on some large resorts in Hawaii: Work there lasted three
years. "I didn't work at first," said Cheryl, "I
just traveled between the islands. Then we settled on Maui and
I took a job as director of the United Way agency." She held
that position for two years, before their now growing family moved
back across the water. "We came back to the mainland and
he chased work. I was home with the children. Sean and Molly are
two years apart and we planned to be settled by the time Sean
was ready for school."
Randy Holt then received a call to work with Borland Electric
on the coast of Oregon. "I was back in the Rockies,"
said Cheryl, "and his phase of the job was ending. We had
a choice: work outside in bitter cold all winter.... or move"
She had been staying home with the babies and trying to figure
out a good second income. "I tried typing services and other
home-based businesses. You have to work way too hard to make a
living at it. I thought I might try my hand at writing. I had
already spent two whole years clerking, where all you do is write,
and I wanted to write a suspense book. I was so naive... while
my husband was very cool about it. I worked over five years before
I actually made a sale."
And make a sale she has. In fact, she has made four, two were
made before even getting an agent involved. "This is big
business for these guys. They can't afford to gamble with unprofessional
writers." In order to succeed at this business of writing
she had to make some adjustments. First, she was not able to break
directly into suspense books so she switched to romance novels.
That genre is more accepting of new writers, and more likely to
take a look at unsolicited manuscripts. Second, she researched
the romance books that were currently being published. "You
can't go to garage sales and get old paperbacks. If you have a
publisher in mind, then read as many of their latest books as
you can." Third, she had to work hard. She spends at least
three hours a day writing, and hopes to spend more once both of
her children enter grade school. "It takes practice, practice,
practice. My first manuscripts were laughable." she said.
"After I had written four or five manuscripts I could tell
that my work was starting to be on par with other writers. It
was ready for someone to actually take a look at it." Finally,
flexibility is helpful. "I can write suspense, historicals,
non-fiction... I'm pretty unique in that way. I have now written
nine manuscripts and I don't have to send in the complete book
anymore. I can just call them with an idea. The people who succeed
at this are savvy, educated business people. If you look foolish
or sound foolish, they won't take a look at you, no matter how
good your writing is."
Cheryl's first book, The Way of the Heart, came out in December,
followed by Be My Valentine, coming out now, with more in the
works.It takes her approximately two months to write a book. LCB
Cheryl Holt, Author
E-mail: cherylholt@seasurf.net
Website: www.cherylholt.com
Hours: By appointment
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