Guest Blog: Lauren Wilder

I have always loved writing. I have been working on various stories for years but it was only recently I finally took the plunge and actually submitted my work to a publisher. On the advice of a friend, I was convinced to submit to an e publisher, on the basis that e books are the latest trend and it would be prudent to try and aim for such a huge market on the web. I searched online for romance e publishers and Siren was the first one up. I had a browse around their site and my friend said they are quite a successful publisher, so I sent my manuscript off and waited, with knots in my tummy.

I heard back from Siren with an offer to publish my novel within three weeks. I was ecstatic! I was so relieved. I was joyful and hopeful that at last I may stand an actual chance of doing what I love for a living.

My imagination ran wild as I made plans about moving abroad to my old ramshackle house in Bulgaria, living mortgage free and writing from sunrise until sunset on the creaking wooden balcony overlooking my fruit trees and the Stara Planina mountains. Ah, at last. My dream life!

When I came back down to earth and did a bit more research it soon became evident to me that my idyll was not so easily within my grasp. Unless my book was hugely popular I calculated I would have to churn at least four books a month out to stand a chance of creating a realistic income. With the sheer volume of e books available daily, even that would prove a challenge.

Undeterred, I continued to write and Siren contracted four books. I am on my second release, ‘Eternal Desires’ and I ‘m hoping for the best. I have learned so much from the experience and am amazed by how much I didn’t know!

I feel as though I have had a master class in editing and proofreading from my lovely editor Lena, at Siren.

I have been introduced to the art of Blogging and twittering, or is it Tweeting? I now know Face-book isn’t just something for teenagers to chat each other up on and brag about their ‘sick’ new phone , boyfriend/girlfriend. I have also learned how to build my own website, for free! And most importantly of all, I have learned tons from other writers, from reading their wonderful work to finding help and support from total strangers who have been willing to give me their invaluable advice.

I now have lovely, talented, new friends from America I would never have met otherwise! I am looking forward to meeting them next year at the RWA, I can’t wait, find it all so exciting! I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me, one I only used to dream about!

So, even if my books don’t get me to Bulgaria (yet) everything about being a new author so far, has been an uplifting experience and a valuable one. I will to carry on and try other publishing avenues in the near future. I will try everything! And no matter what, I will always write because I truly love it and it feeds my soul, I need it.

And the sweetest bit? Now when someone asks me ‘So what do you do?’ I can finally answer ‘I’m a writer.’ And when the next inevitable question follows, ’Oh so are you published?’ I can say ‘Yes!’

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I was born in the English Lake District and was lucky enough to grow up with spectacular views and wonderful nature on my doorstep. I then moved to an island and spent my remaining childhood living beside the sea. I think this all helped me to become the dreamer and true the romantic I am. I have always been passionate about writing and remember vividly how I used to spend hours tapping away at my mum’s old Olivetti in the kitchen, making up stories about handsome princes and Vikings.(I lived in the Isle of Man where there is a strong history about Vikings)

In High school my English tutor told me I should be writing for Mills & Boon, an ambition I still wish to fulfil. I seem to have a natural talent for writing dreamy romance laced with hot sex! I’m single (my own prince eluded me!) I currently live in England but am planning to move to Bulgaria soon.