Janet Evanovich

To say that Janet Evanovich is an enteratining speaker would be true but also an understatement.  She had the crowd laughing and relating to her words every step of the way.

I truly appreciated her words of wisdom but I also appreciated her sincerity and honesty on the ups and downs of her path to best-selling author.

Apparently, Janet Evanovich, the writer, is truly a family business involving her entire family, which is wonderful to hear and sparks a bit of envy - but it's the good kind of envy. 

I believe this session was taped so if you get a chance to purchase the conference CD I highly recommend listening to Janet's talk because it will inspire you and also refresh you in the sense that even best-selling authors had to start somewhere.  Makes it a little less intimidating for the rest of us who are still struggling to land that first book contract.

At one point Janet related the story of how she had amassed first a shoe box, then a shirt box, then a packing crate of rejection letters and how at one point believing that she'd never become a published author she burned them all.  Two months later she came home from work and her husband and son said to her, "Your editor called," then hugged her.  It was a teary moment but a very poignant moment in her talk this morning.

Many folks know how I frequently talk and write about tax tips for writers and I'm thinking No - don't burn those rejection letters.  They're proof to the IRS that you intend to make a profit.  Then I did a reality check and remembered she doesn't need to worry about that at this point - not to mention it had already happened!

I know we all look forward to a time when we don't have to prove to the IRS that we intend to make a profit as writers because we too are best-selling authors.

Good luck to us all and may we all have fun getting there.