This morning, we are pleased to feature a guest post by author, D.M. Annechino, as he shares a bit about his experiences in writing and publishing over the past 15 years of his career. Enjoy his look at "dumb luck"--although, we will all certainly argue that his writing well warrants his publishing successes--and check out his latest book, More Than a Soldier: One Army Ranger's Daring Escape from the Nazis. Be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post as well!
Dumb Luck or Literary Excellence?
Guest Post by D.M. Annechino
Over the last 15 years I have attended both the San Diego
State University Writer’s Conference and the Southern California Writer’s
Conference. If you’re a serious writer and hope to one day get published, make
it a point to attend a high-profile writer’s conference. Nowhere on planet
Earth will you find more aspiring writers, literary agents, editors,
publishers, and writing instructors. It’s a great venue for networking,
pitching your work and learning the business of writing.
Publishing deals are made at these events; agents offer
representation; writers connect with influential people; workshops teach tricks
of the trade. Overall, it is a worthwhile investment of time and money. And I
guarantee that you’ll meet some extraordinarily talented writers.
The Fiction Read & Critique Workshops are one of my
favorite events at writer’s conferences. Many writers don’t have the backbone
for this slugfest, but those who endure gain some great perspectives. Picture
25 hopeful writers jammed in a small room for hours on end, reading passages
from their latest work and listening to their fellow writers scrutinize every
word, every character, and every syllable. Emotions flow freely and diplomacy is
not in the vocabulary. Of course not all critiques are critical. But for the
most part, the criticisms far outweigh the accolades.
The point of these read & critique workshops is not for
the writer to be unmercifully bludgeoned or embarrassed. But for them to learn
and grow as a writer by accepting the critiques in the spirit in which they
were intended. Thin-skinned writers have no place in this world. Competition is
ferocious. So, excuse me for saying this, but “if you want to play with the big
dogs you have to step into the tall grass”.
What I found most amazing about the read & critique
workshops was that once in a while an undiscovered, unpublished writer would
stand up and read a passage from his or her work and absolutely blow me away.
I’m talking about stunning narratives, riveting dialogue, and a use of language
that was so literate it read like poetry. What amazed me most was that few of
these gifted writers had ever been published. I would say to myself, “If this
gal can’t get to first base, what the hell am I even doing here?” How could I
ever hope to get published if these extremely talented writers were still
waiting on the sidelines?
So, after attending several writer’s conferences and
accepting the painful truth that my writing at best was middle-of-the road, I
faced a bittersweet reality. On one hand I could save myself further pain of
rejection by embracing my fate. On the other hand, it tore out my heart to
accept defeat and the reality that none of my novels would ever be published.
So, I did what any red-blooded Italian would do: I said, “Screw them all! They
don’t know what the hell they’re talking about.”And I self-published.
I didn’t sell very many books; most to family and friends.
But then one day the unimaginable happened. I got a call from an acquisition
editor at Amazon Publishing, a newly formed company in 2010. The editor told me
he stumbled upon, They Never Die Quietly,
my first novel, loved it, and offered me a publishing contract. At first I
thought it was a setup, that my workmates were messing with me. But then I
realized that the guy on the other end of the telephone was legit.
So here I am, seven years later, and I just published, More Than a Soldier, my sixth novel. Whether
or not I’m a good writer, worthy of publication, could be argued till doomsday.
But one thing is certain: Lady Luck dealt me a straight flush and had I not endured
the disappointments and rejection, I’d still be living in the abyss of obscure
writers.
Check out D.M. Annechino's book, More Than a Soldier.
About the Book
Fighting on the front lines in Italy, the German’s teach Angelo a sobering lesson on life when they capture him during the bloody battle of Cisterna. Against insurmountable odds, Angelo miraculously escapes in a way that stretches the imagination. He survives behind enemy lines for over five months, hiding from the Germans and trying to outmaneuver them. He begs for food, sleeps in barns and suffers from many ailments, including dehydration, malnutrition, malaria and exposure to the elements.
More Than a Soldier is Angelo DiMarco’s powerful story of survival, resilience and courage.
Buy the Book:
Praise for More Than a Soldier:
Annechino colorfully draws the actions scenes, and richly brings the supporting cast of characters to life. A moving tale of survival in war-torn Europe.
- Kirkus Reviews
Nuanced and eloquently written, More Than a Soldier adds to the body of WWII literature an extraordinary story of survival and a deeply affecting portrait of a soldier’s coming-of-age.
- The iRead Review
Meet the Author
A native of New York, Annechino now lives in San Diego with his wife, Jennifer. He loves to cook, enjoys a glass of vintage wine, and spends lots of leisure time on the warm beaches of Southern California.
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1 Comments
Thank you so much for Spotlighting More Than a Soldier. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteD.M. Annechino