Deeanne Gist - www.deeannegist.com - Inspirational Romance Author

Monday, August 29, 2005

Switchin' Saddles Midstream

Menu question: "What Made You Switch From General Market to Inspirational?"

I finished Bride in 1997 and got an agent shortly thereafter. I had every intention of sitting down and writing the next novel. Even got so far as completing Chapter One. Then, life happened.

We decided to build a new home 8 miles north of where we currently lived. That involved selling the old one, moving our family of six into a 2-bedroom apartment, acquiring a new puppy, and keeping on top of my journalism.

Once into the new home, I, of course, needed new stuff. I abhor paying full price for anything. So, in order to get all my stuff wholesale, I opened a home accessory business in an antique mall. (This is about the time my mama decided my hubby was a candidate for sainthood merely because he put up with my foolishness.)

Then the Lord pressed upon my heart to package and sell the chore system I had used in my home for the past nine years. That involved writing a business plan, and articles of incorporation and, of course, money. Lots and lots of money. Money we did not have and no one, for some odd reason, wanted to give me. (More stuff for the hubby to list on his Sainthood application.)

So, I did what every enthusiastic entrepreneur does and borrowed the money. The hubby co-signed. And I was off into a wild world of developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling chore systems. Needless to say, I wasn't getting a lot of fiction writing done (though I was still doing journalism.)

That was in 2001. At this point, my agent had been pitching Bride, but had received no bites. So, I asked him to send the manuscript back to me. I knew if I sold, they'd want edits, promotional time and more books. I couldn't do that and run a corporation, too.

Well, this is sorta where the general market v. inspirational market part comes in, but I hate posts a million miles long. So, maybe we better get to that part tomorrow. Okay?

See ya then and may the Lord hold in the palm of His hand those folks effected by hurricane Katrina. Amen.

posted by Deeanne at 12:02 PM

5 Comments:

Barb said...: Hubby is definitely truly devoted to you, cuz co-signing isn't Biblical (tho he maybe didn't realize that). See Proverbs 6, 17, and 22. Did you read many specifically "Christian" books while engaged in your various writing adventures or did you read more from the secular market? Or both?
Deeanne said...: Oh, golly. Don't you dare tell him it's not Biblical. Then he'll have a REALLY good excuse to say "no" to me next time I wanna do something like that! ;-)

You're on the right thought path. I'm gonna talk about my reading habits tomorrow.
Barb said...: I thought you were getting paid for this writing thing??? You won't need co-signers anymore, chicky. In fact, I figured you'd be sending Mr Greg to places like Hawaii for HIS work--with you along for extra fun, of course--instead of expecting him to cover your trips. Looking forward to hearing about those reading habits...
Barb said...: PS--I do need to say that your past history has been really educational. My husband has been known to sigh wistfully, remarking that if I would just turn some of my activities into money-makers that he could retire. But reading your history, it sounds like he's been better off with me skimming off of his trough. Very encouraging! :o)
TS said...: Dee,
And I thought my life was busy...egads.

Blessings,
marvin