Fiction Inspired by Tragedy and Faith

I had the honor of coaching Martha Handler on her first novel, Winter of the Wolf, which was recently published. The story of how this story came to life includes so many interesting lessons for other writers — lessons about knowing your WHY for writing fiction instead of memoir, about asking for help with creative work, about doing your homework on what you want in an agent, and about the hard work of getting the book into readers’ hands. It also nicely shows the role that a book coach can play in the life of a project — where we often fit into the mix. I asked Martha if she would let me ask her a bunch of questions about her path to publication. I was so glad she agreed!

Jennie: I want to start by asking about why you decided to write fiction. There was a real-life tragic event in your life, but you have a busy life and you hadn’t written fiction before. What was your motivation?

Martha: I’d wanted to write fiction for a long time but I couldn’t find a story that I wanted to tell…until my world got rocked when my best friend’s 12 year-old-son was found hanging. We were both brought up with very spiritual beliefs and we knew that souls truly never die. But this boy’s death made no sense to either of us, and I was frustrated that I couldn’t find words to comfort her. I started journaling about my feelings and then one day a few months later, I saw a deer frozen in the surface of a lake and for some unknown reason, it was this magical moment where I instantly saw that this boy’s death was the material I’d been looking for because it would allow me to talk about the subjects that are so important to me, primarily spiritualism and turning grief into gratitude.

Jennie: Were you worried at all about how your friend would react, or writing about something based on real life?

Martha: Not really because other than the actual death itself, the story has no relation to her or her family. And because we are both connected and spiritual, I knew she would understand what I was trying to accomplish.

Jennie: So, you set out to write a book. How did you get the first draft done? What were your writing habits? And did you use any writers’ groups or go to any classes?

Martha: It was a long and winding road and one that took me 18 years (!) from start to finish. I wrote a blog post on it, which can be found on my website.

Note from Jennie: It’s a great post. It includes a bit on Martha’s father who warned that “writing doesn’t pay bills,” the courage it takes to tell someone you want to write, the decision to commit, the crush of rejection, the pride that comes with perseverance.

Jennie: Why did you hire a book coach? And how did that help you?

Martha: I think I fell into the pit that a lot of first-time fiction writers fall into, which is that I put every notable experience I had into my first draft even if it wasn’t remotely relevant. When I was finally finished and ready to show people, it was a staggering 125,000 words! I knew it had to be drastically cut, but I had no idea how to do that.

One day I was having lunch with a new friend and I told her about my dilemma and she asked if I’d ever considered using a book coach. I’d never even heard of such a person, but the more she talked, the more it sounded like just what I needed. This friend was a friend of yours and she promised she’d reach out on my behalf. Long story short, you took me on and you were the absolute perfect book coach. You gave me specific assignments and hard deadlines. I’d been working in a meandering vacuum for so many years that I thrived on having structure. In no time at all, literally just a few months, I could clearly understand exactly what needed to be cut and why, and how I could tighten up the rest of the story. You were the best investment I’ve ever made in myself!

Jennie: Thank you so much for saying that! You had a very brief foray into pitching to traditional agents and publishers and the thing I always warn about happened to you: you had a connection to a famous agent but this agent was *not* right for what you were writing, and almost derailed you completely. Without naming names (because there’s no point in that), can you talk about that experience?

Martha: Certainly! At the very beginning of my search for an agent, a friend in the literary world provided me with a list of three agents that he had some connection with. One of these agents is one of the oldest in the business and he has a well-established firm. I sent an email off to this gentleman and the very next day he called and said he loved the first two chapters I’d sent and asked me to write a 5-page synopsis and to not share my work with any other agents in the meantime. I got off the phone feeling like I’d died and gone to heaven! A top agent, who was one of the first to read my book, loves it. I was on my way. But writing the synopsis was harder than I’d imagined as my story and the topics it covers are fairly complex so I wasn’t sure what to include and what to leave out. Anyway, I worked hard on it and sent it off and then three weeks go by and I email him to find out if he’s still interested. Without any explanation, he asks me for a 10-page synopsis! Back to the drawing board. I send that off and wait and wait. When he finally returns my call, he asks if I’d be willing to rewrite the entire novel. I said I didn’t think so because I really believed I had a great story that was already well written. “Did you think that you would just turn in your manuscript and it would get published as is?” he asked. Not necessarily, but I certainly didn’t think it needed to be rewritten. And when I inquired what he thought should be changed, he couldn’t give me any specifics. Finally, I concluded (and this was collaborated by others) that he was just stringing me along and was a bit senile. Anyway, it was an exasperating experience and one that delayed my agent search for a good 2 months. Still not even sure what my take-away from this experience is.

Note from Jennie: I have a take-away or two ;) It’s to be sure to be strategic about your agent search and your goals in hiring one — to know what you want, and what you are willing to compromise or not. And it’s to realize that pitching can be a long and sometimes irrational process, but you can’t let it get to you. I was so glad when Martha walked away from this situation!

Jennie: You decided to publish with a hybrid publisher, Greenleaf. You had some clear reasons why you thought hybrid was going to be good for you — among them, that you wouldn’t have to prove to anyone why you were interested in writing about the Inuit culture. You also had a really specific idea for the book cover. Can you explain why you made the choice to go with a hybrid publisher?

Note from Jennie: There is a lot of discussion in the publishing industry now about cultural appropriation, and it’s a critically important topic for writers and book coaches alike to continue to talk about, think about, and learn about. I recently came across this video interview of a 20-something black American dancer who specializes in Irish dancing. I thought it was so powerful! At the 2-minute mark, she explains her understanding of cultural appropriation: “My understanding of what [cultural appropriation] means is you’re taking something from another culture, claiming it as your own without recognizing where it comes from… That is so far from what I am doing. It’s important for people to recognize that there’s a difference between appropriation and appreciation.”

Martha: When I started to send my novel to agents, I quickly felt disheartened by the whole process. It’s a lot of work to do the research to single out which agents you think your material would appeal to, and then the additional research to figure out their specific submission requirements, etc. And then you finally get it all prepared and submitted, and then wait to get a rejection that is so standard it leaves you wondering if your submission ever even made it out of their slush pile, let alone got read by anyone, including an intern. Thirty rejections later, I was feeling like I was at a dead end. I didn’t want to self-publish because I believed my novel deserved to be recognized by a publisher as being worthy.

One night I went to a lecture about today’s various publishing options and learned about hybrid publishing. It seemed perfect for me because I could control the narrative, choose my title and cover art, and pick which services I wanted (marketing, social media, etc.) and, most importantly, I’d retain the rights to my material. Miraculously, Greenleaf reached out to me a few days later and I signed on. The only real disagreement we had during the whole publishing process was on the cover design. They had presented me with more traditional choices and I was insistent that I use a friend’s art. Though their focus group didn’t agree with my choice, I wouldn’t back down and I’m so glad I didn’t because the cover has garnered so much attention. I have a blog story on the cover art here.

Note from Jennie: Read Martha’s post and watch the artist’s video she links to — the wolf is made from WORDS. It’s the most incredible thing! I can’t stop looking at it. And on the actual print book of Martha’s book, it just looks amazing!

Jennie: How did the Greenleaf collaboration go?

Martha: It has been a very smooth process. I worked well with my editors and it was a quick and painless process to get my novel into shape (though I credit you with helping me get the book in great form before I ever submitted it). We went back and forth on the title, but I had the ultimate say. All in all, they were professional and timely and my team all felt like collaborators who were truly invested in my novel.

Jennie: Hybrid options can be expensive up front because all the marketing costs are typically baked in, and because the author shoulders some of the financial risk of bringing the book out. Were you happy with the value you received for the money?

Martha: I was happy with their services until it was time to market the book. Let’s face it, Covid-19 has changed everything in terms of book marketing and I doubt any publishing house has been able to sufficiently pivot for these times. When I reviewed Greenleaf’s marketing plan, I found it very generic. I wanted my marketing team to truly “get” my material and think out-of-the-box about how to market me, my story, wolves, etc. I ended up interviewing about 6 book marketing firms and finally found one (FSB Associates) that truly related to my material (and had actually read it prior to our interview!) and had lots of creative ideas for marketing around my book’s concepts and around the fact that I’m giving all my author proceeds to support my work at the Wolf Conservation Center (nywolf.org).

My book was just released on July 7, 2020, and since that time I’ve been very busy doing podcasts and Q & A’s for a huge range of book reviewers, support groups, bereavement groups, suicide survivor groups, spiritual groups, etc. But I’m still in the early days and I believe my book is becoming more and more relevant given its topical subjects. I’m really digging in now and learning everything I can about book marketing, outreach and social media. This book is my baby, but it turns out that birthing it was just the beginning! Now I have to truly nurture it. I wasn’t able to have my big blow-out NYC book party that I’d planned, but I’ll do it once it’s safe to gather. And I still plan to set up a book tour in the future. I’ve never been much of a self-promoter but I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and reaching for the stars. Because if I don’t give this my all, I’ll always wonder, “What if…”

Jennie: The pandemic has been so rough for all authors. But what has been good about having a book in the world? What has been unexpected? And powerful?

Martha: The good news is that people (reviewers, booksellers, friends, etc.) are reading like never before because they have the time and not a lot of other distractions. Also, those with podcasts (and this number is growing exponentially) all need content. I’m being invited to speak at Zoom book groups and company retreats, etc., which wouldn’t have happened if these were pre-Covid in-person meet-ups. And when you do a good job and are enthusiastic about your book and your material, they tell others and the word spreads pretty quickly. Covid has given lots of people a chance to ponder life and death and what our purpose here is and those are important themes in my novel so I’m expecting the enthusiasm for Winter of the Wolf to continue to expand.

Jennie: What has it meant to you to be out in the world with this story that came from such a place of pain? And to be able to talk about these difficult things?

Martha: It has truly been cathartic. I have always understood (and quantum physics proves) that death is not the end, but only a soul’s transition point. I’ve been having this discussion with people since I was very young because I was often able to see souls who’d passed over. And it’s always angered me the way our religious institutions have dealt with death, making it seem so final, and that certain protocol needed to be followed or else. So, by putting my beliefs into my novel, I’ve been able to reach a much broader audience. In the past few months, many people (friends and total strangers) who’ve read my novel and who’ve lost loved ones recently due to suicide, accidental overdoses, cancer, Covid, etc. have reached out to me asking for help. My message for those that are trying to heal is that your loved ones who’ve passed are around you and they are eager to make contact, so ask them for signs. This can be anything from a feather, a dragonfly, a word that you shared with this person — whatever you want. Just ask and if you’re open, you’ll receive it and keep on receiving it anytime you need reassurance of their presence. I have lots of resources at the back of my book for those who are interested in pursuing this fascinating subject further. So, yes, I’m not only able to talk about these difficult subjects, but I actually enjoy doing so.

Jennie: What’s next for your writing life?

Martha: I’m considering quite a few options. Many readers have reached out, asking me to write a sequel so they can follow my protagonist, Bean, into adulthood, and that’s of interest to me. I’ve also considered writing a memoir with a twist. And I’m currently writing op-eds about a bunch of relevant topics, but I’m finding it exceedingly frustrating trying to get these pieces published. So, if anyone knows someone who can take a piece, figure out which publications it would best fit, and send it out, please contact me!

Jennie: Ha! Maybe someone will! We have an amazing community of book coaches we are building and supporting at Author Accelerator. If anyone is interested in being matched with one of our coaches (free of charge), go HERE. If anyone is interested in becoming a book coach, start with these 6 free videos I made on what it is and how it works. You can find them at bookcoaches.com/abc