By Linda O Johnston
Every author’s writing career is different. We all share one thing in common, though. We remember our milestones.
Maybe we don’t recall exactly when each occurred, but we think about the time that we stopped telling ourselves we would like to write and instead actually began writing. We think about the first time we finished a chapter. And then a whole manuscript.
If we’re lucky enough to pursue our careers and succeed, we also recall our first publications. Our first agent. Whatever other things were meaningful to who and what we are as writers.
I’m bringing this up because I have just reached a couple of milestones. First, my new release HOUNDS ABOUND, my third Pet Rescue Mystery for Berkley Prime Crime, is my thirtieth published novel. I also was recognized in a Harlequin newsletter for having published my fifteenth Harlequin story. They count novellas in that, so my Nocturne Bites were included, although I hadn’t added them to my novel count. I’m delighted about that, too!
I do recall some of those earlier milestones as well. I’d tried my hand at writing before but had stopped while going to law school. Even so, I kept telling my husband I wanted to write again. He finally said, “Well, write, then,†and I did–and kept going.
Of course I recall my first published fiction–a short story in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. I’d have remembered it anyway, but it was especially exciting since it also won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for best first mystery short story of the year. Plus, it was published again in an anthology.
Then there was my first published novel, A GLIMPSE OF FOREVER–a time travel romance published by Dorchester . I’ve been really sorry to hear of that company’s recent struggles.
I remember signing with my first agent, and then with the one I’ve been with for many years and adore. I recall my first Harlequin sale, my first mystery sale, and more. It’s always so much fun to revisit those times!
How about you? What are your favorite writing milestones?
Linda O Johnston’s Pet Rescue Mysteries, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, feature Lauren Vancouver, a determined pet rescuer who runs a no-kill shelter. Of course, in this cozy mystery series, “no-kill†refers to the animals, not people! Her most recent Pet Rescue Mystery is HOUNDS ABOUND , an April 2012 release.
Visit Linda at www.LindaOJohnston.com or KillerHobbies.blogspot.com
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Author Details
Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year. Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 39 romance and mystery novels, including the Pet Rescue Mystery Series, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. She currently writes the Superstition Mysteries and the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and also writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne.
Linda enjoys hearing from readers.
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Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year. Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 39 romance and mystery novels, including the Pet Rescue Mystery Series, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. She currently writes the Superstition Mysteries and the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and also writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne.
Linda enjoys hearing from readers.
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4 Comments
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Anonymous
on April 11, 2012Another informative blog… Thank you for sharing it… Best of luck for further endeavor too.
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Anonymous
on April 9, 2012That sounds like quite a special day, Ger. Glad that OCC came through for you–although I'm not surprised! And thanks for the congrats.
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Anonymous
on April 7, 2012And congratulations, Linda, on all your hard-won success!
-Ger
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Anonymous
on April 6, 2012Linda,
I will never forget my first OCC meeting! I was so nervous! I walked in, and Desiree Gonzales and Nancy MacFarlane, complete strangers to me, called me over to sit at their table – they could see how nervous and out of place I felt. Then I went over to the Ask an Author table, where authors Crystal Green and Judy Duarte were just talking to people! Then, president Marianne Donley introduced me to Jackie Diamond! Then I won the first chapter critique by Susan Squires! Then I met Sue Phillips and she said she could just tell I was going to get published. It was such an awesome day!!!!! That was one hell of a milestone!!!-Ger
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