One Author’s Journey — Erica Vetsch
November 12, 2009
Today it’s my honor to interview Erica Vetsch, debut author and friend. Erica’s book The Bartered Bride has just come out from Heartsong. Here’s what it’s about:
Jonathan Kennebrae is furious when his grandfather informs him that his future has been decided. He will marry Melissa Brooke or be disinherited. Jonathan has invested years of his life in Kennebrae Shipping, but heaven help him if Grandfather decides to take it all away for this.
Melissa, too, is devestated when her parents make their announcement. As little more than a bargaining chip in her father’s business maneuvers, she feels her secure world slipping away. Engaged to marry a man she has never met — someone “considerably” older than herself? What have her parents done?
Can Jonathan and Melissa find a way out of this loveless marriage, or must they find a way forward together?
I’ve had the pleasure of reading The Bartered Bride and found it to be a well-written romance sprinkled with comedy and surprise. Erica’s first book is really good, and I look forward to reading her many future books.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Erica about her writing journey.
Sally: Erica, what was it that made you first say, “I think I can write a book”?
Erica: This is a great question, because doesn’t it take some hubris to think that? I remember dreaming when I was a teen about what being a writer would be like. (Though I don’t actually think I was serious about becoming a writer at the time.) I remember reading books and continuing the stories in my head past the last chapter, rewriting endings to suit myself, inserting myself as a cast member in stories that I loved. Who didn’t want to be Laura’s sister in Little House on the Prairie or help Cherry Ames solve mysteries at Spencer Hospital?
Also, when I was in ninth grade, I had some time on my hands (that probably should’ve been spent studying, but with the way things worked out, I guess it wasn’t exactly time wasted) and I penned (penciled) a story in a spiral notebook. Pages and pages. Suddenly, I had written a book. I twasn’t a very good book, but it had horses and a circus and dogs, and a cute boy. What else does a story need? 
Sally: We have similar backgrounds there. And the books that first hooked me were the Little House books. So how many books did you write before your first one sold?
Erica: Not counting the one from ninth grade? (Picture me counting on my fingers, becuse that’s what I always have to do.) The Bartered Bride was my sixth book. By the time I was offered a contract on it, I had written two more.
Sally: Wow! Eight books. How long did it take from that first attempt to your first sale?
Erica: From the time I started writing seriously for publication, it was almost four years.
Sally: As you all can see, Erica’s a busy writer. So tell us how you found out you’d sold The Bartered Bride.
Erica: I pitched the book at the 2007 ACFW conference and a year later, at the 2008 conference, JoAnne Simmons called my name from the platform to come up and receive a contract for the book. It was such an amazing moment!
Sally: Erica plays that way too calmly. I wasn’t at that conference, but I’ve seen it at the past and it’s hugely exciting. Getting that first contract in front of five hundred other writers who get how awesome that is — very cool.
This is a silly question now, after hearing how much you wrote before that first sale, but here goes. Have any other books in the works?
Erica: Yep, I’m currently writing my sixth contracted book for Heartsong, and there are a few new things in the hopper as we speak.
Sally: I’m looking forward to reading them all, Erica. By the way, I love your blog posts on your quarterly goals. So motivating and eye-opening. You’re a a hard worker, for sure.
One last question — what is one thing that has surprised you the most since receiving that first contract?
Erica: That I can no longer be a linear writer. I was very used to working on one project at a time, plotting, writing, editing, polishing, and submitting. Then beginning a new project. Those days are gone. At the moment I’m working on a new proposal for a new series for down the road (sample chapters, synopsis, etc.) plotting a contracted novel that needs to be written soon, awaiting content edits on a novel, copy edits on another, and galley proofs for a third. it’s a lot to juggle, but I’ve been pleased with the way I’ve been able to compartmentalize (so far) and attend to the task at hand when i need to.
Sally: Thanks, Erica. That was fun.
If you’d like to get your hands on The Bartered Bride, you can find it here at CBD or order it straight from the publisher at 740-922-7280
Erica’s working on her web site, but in the meantime you can find her at her fun blog, On the Write Path.
Comments
4 Responses to “One Author’s Journey — Erica Vetsch”
Good interview, Ladies.
Thank you, Sally, for having me here! A fun interview, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the book.
Great inteview! Erica’s books are a treat
Great interview. That must be an unforgettable thing, to get you first book contract in front of an audience at a writers’ conference!