GUEST POST: Romantic Suspense Author Mary Burton Tells Us How We Can Write Full-Time
Posted by pumpupyourbookpromotion on August 4, 2008
Ever dreamed about quitting that day job and writing full-time? It’s every authors’ dream, isn’t it?
Today, I’m honored to have bestselling author Mary Burton here with us today. Mary is one of my clients at Pump Up Your Book Promotion and when her publicist told me that she wrote full-time, I knew I just had to have her share her story with us. Mary is the author of the romantic suspense novel, I’M WATCHING YOU, which is available now from Zebra Books. If you’d like to find out more about Mary, visit her website at www.maryburton.com. Click on the book cover to take you to Amazon to purchase her book! But, first, it’s a pleasure and an honor to host this wonderful and talented author at Book Marketing Buzz. Take it away, Mary!
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WHY I LEFT MY DAY JOB TO WRITE FULLTIME
My last “real” job was the marketing director for an engineering firm. When I
gave notice, my boss asked if I’d like to freelance for the company and write articles and promotional pieces. This arrangement meant the firm didn’t have to rush to refill the marketing director position and it provided me with some income. It was a perfect fit for us both. Water and sewer rates and landfill construction was a far cry from historical romances, but it didn’t make sense to turndown paying work. As it turned out, I freelanced for several companies over the next few years. There were times when it was a push to write the fiction and get the paying work done but somehow it all got done. In those four years I ghost wrote a number of articles, authored THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO DIRECT MARKETING and developed several marketing brochures.
The novels did start to sell and slowly I let the non-fiction work go. A few years after I sold my first historical novel, I decided to make the transition from historical to contemporary romantic suspense. But again instead of giving up the hisotricals cold turkey, I continued to write them as I worked on romantic suspense proposals. Again, it was tough at times doing double duty but that’s what it took.
So what did I learn from all this? Don’t walk away from the expertise you’ve acquired in your day job. Use that expertise. Freelance for your last company or consider writing nonfiction articles about the work you’ve done. All writing, if done well, can open doors. And be willing to double up at times as you transition from one style to the next
Becoming a full time writer takes time. The transition won’t happen over night so don’t fret if the path to being published isn’t as perfectly straight as you first thought. Be open to what comes your way!
Mary Burton is the author of the contemporary romantic suspense novel, I’M WATCHING YOU, published by Zebra last December. You can visit her website at www.maryburton.com.
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how to write full-time, writing full-time, virtual book tour, blog tour, Mary Burton, Zebra Books, Im Watching You, romantic suspense, romantic suspense author, romantic suspense novel, bestselling book, online book promotion, book publicity, author publicity
JM said
I love learning about the authors and the steps they took in the writing world. Excellent post.
pumpupyourbookpromotion said
What an inspiration she is. Mary, thank you for sharing your story with us!
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Virtual Book Tour: Romantic Suspense Author Mary Burton Visits Book Marketing Buzz & Book Cover Lovers! « Let’s Talk Virtual Book Tours said
[...] Mary Burton, author of the romantic suspense novel, I’M WATCHING YOU, will be stopping off at Book Marketing Buzz and Book Cover Lovers on her third day of her virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion! A [...]
ccmal said
Excellent advice. I love the cover art on this book. I think I have a copy of this one coming in the mail for review.
Best of luck with your tour.
Cheryl