5 Things To Be Grateful For--Debut Author Edition - Crystal Collier

Hey, gang! I know we're headed into a busy holiday week for some, so I wanted to take the chance to wish all of you safe travels and loads of fun. Also wanted to share some things to be thankful for--with a writerly slant, of course.

So author-friend Crystal Collier put together this great post. Crystal's debut novel, Moonless, is out now, and what a great way to stuff your own stocking this holiday season! (Okay, on the proofread that came out unintentionally tawdry … but I'm leaving it because it also made me snort-laugh like a 7th grader.)

With that, how about I just let Crystal take it away.  :D


Five Things (Or So) To Be Grateful For--Debut Author Edition

E.J., thank you so much for having me here today! It's amazing, as you look back over a period of time, how many people influence your life and help you grow. As a debut author, I've been marveling at how I got where I am, so I want to share the things/people I'm MOST grateful for (publishing wise):

1. The Editor. Have you met the amazing Bethany Kaczmarek at A Little Red, Inc.? My publisher let me choose my own editor, and after much research and communication, I met Bethany. Her style and taste directly complimented my story, and she not only kept me laughing while editing, but caught absolutely EVERYTHING. Some people edit because they can. Some edit because they have a gift. She's the latter--and I'm exceptionally blessed for being able to work with her.

2. Critique Partners/Beta Readers: The biggest support has been my creative partner and husband. He reads everything--even if it's not his genre of choice--and even brainstorms with me. Best. Thing. Ever. I don't know what I'd do without Rachel Hert--from exchanging cheesy emails (where she locks me in a basement to work and keeps me alive with cheese dropped down the laundry chute,) to the continued support. Similarly, T.C. Mckee has been the wind beneath my wings. Her optimism and encouragement gave me the courage to get out there. My writing coach, Sharon Johnston (whose book, Sleeper, releases December 2), bequeathed me with a new title and helped fashion this story so literary agents were clamoring for it. My mom and sister read multiple times.  Lastly, for my amazing beta readers in 2009 (all 32 of you), I am intensely grateful--and especially for your amazing weekly feedback.


3. Readers/Reviewers: Every time someone says they've read my book, every time someone is kind enough to leave a review, I feel like breaking out a turkey and having Thanksgiving dinner.

4. Blog friends/Writers/Support Groups: WriteOnCon connected me with Rachel. (LOVE YOU WRITEONCON ORGANIZERS!) There have been innumerable writers who've been an example of what to (and not to) do. I've been blessed with amazing support groups (WriteOnBuildOn, DayDreamers Anonymous, Writers Support 4U, my Goodreads groups, and YaLitChat)--you've kept me going and taught me so much. Lastly, my bloggies--including the Insecure Writers Group, and What's Up Wednesday peeps, you have been an immense support/staple in my developing career. I'm intensely grateful for Rachael Harrie with her Writers Crusades...ahem, Campaigns, and my buddies with the Choose Your Own Adventure bloghops.

5. Goodreads/Amazon/Cheese: Reading is the key to good writing, so I'm grateful for all establishments that sell books, but especially for Goodreads and the real-world recommendations that keep me in the know. And of course, cheese keeps the brain pumping.

Who and what are you most grateful for this year?

Crystal Collier, author of MOONLESS, is a former composer/writer for Black Diamond Productions. She can be found practicing her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, three littles, and “friend” (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. 

You can find her on her blog and Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

Alexia’s nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless.

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.

"MOONLESS is powerful, compelling, and packed with soul." --Bethany Kaczmarek, editor at A Little Red, Inc. 

"I fell head over heels for the characters." --TC Mckee, BookFish Books 

"Power-packed action, heart stopping mystery, unpredictable twists and turns..." --I Am a Reader Not a Writer

Buy MOONLESS HERE or add it on Goodreads.

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32 comments:

  1. I'm grateful for the same things, especially awesome critique partners who make me laugh on every page. (In a good way of course.) Certainly the IWSG has been a blessing, way beyond what I could've ever imagined.
    Congratulations again, Crystal!

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    1. So true! A great support structure is often the difference between success and failure.

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  2. Yay-- nice to see you here and learn a bit more about your book. I agree with your thankful list! All the best to you! (And just shaking my head at E.J.

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    1. Thank you, Julie. It's amazing how others buoy you up, eh?

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  3. I'm ever grateful for this network. I'd be nowhere without it and I love paying it forward. I loved seeing all the people publishing this past year. Now I have all these great new authors and books to read. Congrats, Crystal!

    OK, I snorted to, EJ

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    1. Thanks, Mary. It has been pretty awesome to see so many friends launch this year, eh?

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  4. What a fabulous list of publishing things to be grateful for. Congrats again on your release!

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  5. I'm also so grateful for the blogging/writing network, I can't believe how much it has enriched my life. Great post for this week, Crystal. And shame on you for the tawdry plug, EJ. Can't deny it made me laugh too. :D
    Happy Thanksgiving to both of you!

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    1. Julie--seconded! This online society is like cheese straight through an IV.

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  6. Wow, it looks like you have so much to be grateful for this year, Crystal. That's awesome! Like you, I'm also grateful for blog friends. The blogosphere is such a great community to be part of!

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    1. Seriously. A whole bunch of virtual besties who make you snort or chuckle on occasion (EJ) and keep a grin on your face.

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  7. Excellent things to be grateful for. And Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  8. A Happy Thanksgiving to you, Crystal!

    And cheese does make things better. Well, not gorgonzolla.

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    1. Every cheese has its place. ;) Happy Thanksgiving!

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  9. I'm grateful for all those things, too. Plus chocolate. And naps.

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  10. And bacon. Mmm. Have you tried chocolate covered bacon? I hear it's all the rage at fairs, or it was a few years ago.

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  11. I'm grateful I found the writing community. There's nothing else like it. :)
    Congrats, Crystal.

    LOL, EJ. :P

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  12. There are so many things I'm thankful for this year, that I don't believe the comment box could hold it all.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Hugs and chocolate!

    Tweeting!

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    1. Truly love hearing that, Shelly! Hope the year closes in grand fashion for you and yours. :)

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    2. Awesome. I feel exactly the same way.

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  13. Moonsong--Moonless? I see the connection E.J. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

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  14. Moonless is on my list. I wish Crystal the best of luck and I cannot wait to read this one. Great post and I loved hearing the list of things she is thankful for.

    Also- you new blog design is fabulous. It might not be new new- but it is new to me and it is awesome! :)

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    ~Jess

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  15. Amen for CPs!!! Crystal, I love your list - I'm in total agreement :)

    And EJ, I may or may not have snorted my coffee out of my nose when I read your line about stuffing my own stocking...

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  16. A perfect post for this week of Thanksgiving! Wishing you both a day full of love, fun, and good food!
    ((hugs))

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  17. I knew cheese would get in there somehow ;)
    Another congrats, Crystal.

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  18. Crystal has some great reminders of things to be grateful for! The people that help us along the way are so important and we have so much to be thankful for!

    Best of luck to Crystal!
    ~Jess

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“Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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