My Personal Path To Publication - Patricia Kiyono
Today on the blog, I get to introduce a new friend. Patricia is a new author/friend recently discovered to us at Astraea Press. Her first book released is The Legacy, something completely different for our current list. Astraea has done historical romance before, but never Japanese history! With Patricia's unique perspective, the book promises to be that exciting blend of fact and fiction historical drama and romance should always be. A life-long writer and member of Romance Writers of America, I look forward to getting to know Patricia much better and the many manuscripts I'm sure are bubbling just under her creative surface. Some of us submitting have it easy, some hard, Patricia seems to have had it charmed! Check out her journey to publication below and be amazed! Note, that she is a great example of the power of writing and critique groups!
1. How long have you been writing?I've been writing since I learned how toput words on paper. I've always loved to create worlds where people hadproblems but overcame them in the end. I started writing romance about tenyears ago, when I found out about Romance Writers of America. Since then I'vejoined two writing groups and am part of a critique group.
2. Are you published and if so, how longhave you been a published author? If not, what's your plan?My novella, The Legacy, was published by Astraea Press this past July. I'm sohappy to be affiliated with this company, and have plans to submit more manuscriptsto them soon. (Note: I just submitted a secondmanuscript to Astraea Press and am waiting to hear if they will accept it.)
3. Which route did you choose forbecoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route,going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?I chose to go directly to the publisher.
4. Why did you choose that particularroute?I wanted to go through a publisherbecause I wanted the support of additional editing, marketing, and a good coverartist. I submitted to Astraea Press for two reasons: their policy of cleanromance fits best with what I like to write, and the company had put out a callfor a line of stories for which all proceeds would go to charity benefitingJapan after the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster. Since I'mJapanese-American, this really appealed to me.
5. How long did it take you to write yourfirst novel?I started writing my first full lengthnovel about six years ago. I'm almost finished with it! My novella, The Legacy, features thegreat-great-great grandson of the main character in that novel, and I wrote itin six weeks.
6. How long did it take you to publishit? I was amazed at the speed at which thingshappened. I submitted my story on May 31, and six days later I received ane-mail notifying me that it was accepted. The novella became available on July28.
7. How many times did it get rejectedbefore it got published? None. Astraea Press was the onlypublisher I sent it to.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.I haven't had any terrible rejectionletters. Usually I would get a note with "I'm sorry, we don't feel yourstory is a good fit for us." But the worst comment on a writing contestwas probably one in which the judge simply said, "I can't get into thisstory." There was no explanation of what was wrong with it, but I guessshe just didn't like it.
9. What was the best news you ever gotin your writing life and how did it make you feel? My son-in-law wrote on my facebook wallthat he had just read The Legacy. Andthen he just said "Good stuff." Those two words were such a greataffirmation of my writing.
10. What's the worst piece of advice youever got? I'm not sure I've gotten bad advice. Thewriters I associate with are a great bunch and very supportive.
11. Now, tell us the best! Get your thoughts down first, and thenworry about editing. So many times I'm searching for the right word or theperfect phrasing, but when I "turn off my internal editor" and justwrite, I get so much more accomplished. I can always edit later.
12. Where can we read your blog?Since I love so many creative arts(sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and painting as well as writing) my blog iscalled Creative Hodgepodge and it can be found atwww.creative-hodgepodge.blogspot.com
13. Buy your books? The Legacy isavailable at Astraea Press (www.astraeapress.com) as well as at Amazon, the Barnes and Noble's website(barnesandnoble.com), and Bookstrand.
14. Connect with you on facebook?My facebook author page is at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricia- Kiyono/149294485148710
15. On Twitter? I haven't tried this yet.
16. Your website? www.patriciakiyono.com
Blurb for The Legacy: When Andy Tanaka finds an old wooden chest ina storage shed on his family's flower farm, he can't wait to share hisdiscovery with his best friend, Leigh Becker.
Inside the dusty lacquered chest are a pair ofswords, some Japanese clothing, and a mysterious scroll, which could providelinks to his samurai ancestor. They find someone to translate the scroll andthen research the significance of the other items, intent on ensuring thelegacy isn't forgotten.
In the process, they learn not only aboutsamurai history, but also some surprising truths about themselves.
I asked Patricia to give me a little personal information about herself also and this is what she told me: My grandfather came to America from Japan in1915. My grandmother came a few years later. So my dad and his brother werefull-blooded Japanese. Fortunately, the family avoided being"relocated" in the infamous internment camps during World War II,because they were the only Japanese family in Michigan. My mother is fromJapan, so I have close ties to that country.And I have more good news to share.....Patricia has another novella coming out! Her Greek Island story, titled Aegean Intrigue, will be published by Astraea Press! More details coming soon!
It's clear to me, Patricia is the one to watch! Keep your eye on her and you won't be disappointed. :D
1. How long have you been writing?I've been writing since I learned how toput words on paper. I've always loved to create worlds where people hadproblems but overcame them in the end. I started writing romance about tenyears ago, when I found out about Romance Writers of America. Since then I'vejoined two writing groups and am part of a critique group.
2. Are you published and if so, how longhave you been a published author? If not, what's your plan?My novella, The Legacy, was published by Astraea Press this past July. I'm sohappy to be affiliated with this company, and have plans to submit more manuscriptsto them soon. (Note: I just submitted a secondmanuscript to Astraea Press and am waiting to hear if they will accept it.)
3. Which route did you choose forbecoming published, the traditional route, with an agent, the "indie" route,going directly to the publishers yourself, or deciding to self-publish?I chose to go directly to the publisher.
4. Why did you choose that particularroute?I wanted to go through a publisherbecause I wanted the support of additional editing, marketing, and a good coverartist. I submitted to Astraea Press for two reasons: their policy of cleanromance fits best with what I like to write, and the company had put out a callfor a line of stories for which all proceeds would go to charity benefitingJapan after the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster. Since I'mJapanese-American, this really appealed to me.
5. How long did it take you to write yourfirst novel?I started writing my first full lengthnovel about six years ago. I'm almost finished with it! My novella, The Legacy, features thegreat-great-great grandson of the main character in that novel, and I wrote itin six weeks.
6. How long did it take you to publishit? I was amazed at the speed at which thingshappened. I submitted my story on May 31, and six days later I received ane-mail notifying me that it was accepted. The novella became available on July28.
7. How many times did it get rejectedbefore it got published? None. Astraea Press was the onlypublisher I sent it to.
8. Tell us about worst rejection letter.I haven't had any terrible rejectionletters. Usually I would get a note with "I'm sorry, we don't feel yourstory is a good fit for us." But the worst comment on a writing contestwas probably one in which the judge simply said, "I can't get into thisstory." There was no explanation of what was wrong with it, but I guessshe just didn't like it.
9. What was the best news you ever gotin your writing life and how did it make you feel? My son-in-law wrote on my facebook wallthat he had just read The Legacy. Andthen he just said "Good stuff." Those two words were such a greataffirmation of my writing.
10. What's the worst piece of advice youever got? I'm not sure I've gotten bad advice. Thewriters I associate with are a great bunch and very supportive.
11. Now, tell us the best! Get your thoughts down first, and thenworry about editing. So many times I'm searching for the right word or theperfect phrasing, but when I "turn off my internal editor" and justwrite, I get so much more accomplished. I can always edit later.
12. Where can we read your blog?Since I love so many creative arts(sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and painting as well as writing) my blog iscalled Creative Hodgepodge and it can be found atwww.creative-hodgepodge.blogspot.com
13. Buy your books? The Legacy isavailable at Astraea Press (www.astraeapress.com) as well as at Amazon, the Barnes and Noble's website(barnesandnoble.com), and Bookstrand.
14. Connect with you on facebook?My facebook author page is at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricia- Kiyono/149294485148710
15. On Twitter? I haven't tried this yet.
16. Your website? www.patriciakiyono.com
Blurb for The Legacy: When Andy Tanaka finds an old wooden chest ina storage shed on his family's flower farm, he can't wait to share hisdiscovery with his best friend, Leigh Becker.Inside the dusty lacquered chest are a pair ofswords, some Japanese clothing, and a mysterious scroll, which could providelinks to his samurai ancestor. They find someone to translate the scroll andthen research the significance of the other items, intent on ensuring thelegacy isn't forgotten.
In the process, they learn not only aboutsamurai history, but also some surprising truths about themselves.
I asked Patricia to give me a little personal information about herself also and this is what she told me: My grandfather came to America from Japan in1915. My grandmother came a few years later. So my dad and his brother werefull-blooded Japanese. Fortunately, the family avoided being"relocated" in the infamous internment camps during World War II,because they were the only Japanese family in Michigan. My mother is fromJapan, so I have close ties to that country.And I have more good news to share.....Patricia has another novella coming out! Her Greek Island story, titled Aegean Intrigue, will be published by Astraea Press! More details coming soon!
It's clear to me, Patricia is the one to watch! Keep your eye on her and you won't be disappointed. :D
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