Dream Weaver-From Dream To Reality

by Lisa Beth Darling
(Connecticut)

Dream Weaver

Genre: Romance,suspense, thriller, mystery, fiction

Almost a year ago I left my rather popular fanfiction behind and wrote an all-original novel that I entitled "Dream Weaver". This isn't my first novel, it's my 10th! I've written 7 full length fanfiction novels and 3 full length all-original novels over the past 25 years. That doesn't count short stories, poems, prose and newspaper articles.

I actually surprised myself with this book and how well it turned out (toot toot!) so I set off to find a publisher/agent for it and get it 'out there'. Much to my chagrin I discovered the world of publishing and agents hadn't changed any since I'd last set out on this road almost 15 years ago. It's the same old Catch22...if you're not published you can't get an agent to even talk to you and if you are published you don't need one.

With the help of some wonderful friends and one particular friend, Karen, I was put in touch with the new world of self-publishing. This is one arena where things have changed quite a bit from days gone by. No longer do you have to come up with an extraordinary amount of money up front and then schelp books around to local stores yourself. I was surprised by this but still skeptical as to what could actually be accomplished and how good the quality could possibly be.

I signed up with a popular self-publishing website and there my book sat for almost a year. It garnered some interest and sold a few copies. I promoted it by giving away e-books to members of my established mailing list and making a web site for it. I also got hooked up with several writers and promotional websites. That in itself was the realization of a dream...small as it was. But in this instance size really doesn't matter.

I worked hard on cover after cover to come up with something not only suitable but eye-catching and after several months found the perfect photograph for use. I designed the cover around the photograph and it came out pretty well! Believe it or not the cover was one of the hardest parts of the entire process. For me, it really had to be 'just right'.

A few more months went by while I hemmed and hawed and got the copyright all situated. Then I sat on the fence some more not sure that I really wanted to take the plunge and put myself out there this much. In a lot of respects the novel, while fiction, really is very autobiographical and extremely close to my heart. I wasn't sure that I was ready to take the knocks that could come my way in the form of 'criticism'. You have to have a thick skin in this business and be able to take what's constructive and work with it but take what's just a flame and toss it right back at the flamer. It's much easier to just curl up a ball and cry or to never put yourself out there at all.

I wanted to be 'out there'. I wanted my chance to go to The Show more than anything else in the whole world. I've dreamed of this since I was in the 4th grade...silly, huh?

So, I spent a lot of time reformatting the book and learning about industry standards so I could get it up to muster. A few weeks ago I finally went for it. I went through my self-publishing web site and bought a distribution package through them which included my very own ISBN. Yes, it's mine, all mine, no one else owns it and I'm free to do what I want with it and take it to a 'real' publishing house should the chance ever arise. For what I got for my $100.00 it's a really great deal. I not only get the ISBN for use on hard copy and e-books along with the bar code and listed in Bower's Books In Print...it was all cheaper than buying the ISBN myself! I'll also be hooked up with Googlebooks and Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles and any other place out there that wishes to carry my work. I really can't recommend this site enough to anyone who wants to self-publish though I'm not sure that I can mention them by name here and so have refrained from doing that.

Today my very own copy of "Dream Weaver" arrived in the mail and I am absolutely astounded by how good it looks! If you didn't know it was 'self-published' you'd never guess! It is as professional as can be and I'm just thrilled with it.

I can't believe how much work I've put into this project or understand why I didn't take the plunge sooner. I should have more faith in myself I guess. I'm working on that. It's been a very long and extremely rewarding road and I wouldn't trade it for anything, not even a 'real' publishing contract.

I did it and you can too!

Look for "Dream Weaver" by me, Lisa Beth Darling, come September, 2008. It's proof positive that any and all good dreams can come to fruition.

Visit Moon Mistress Publishing.