Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Macmillan.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I first fell in love with books when I read Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” in fifth grade. Reading that book opened my eyes to the power that words could hold, and I quickly became an obsessive reader. As my love for books grew, I dreamed of the day I would write my book and see my name printed across the beautiful cover of a novel.
Fast forward to adulthood, and I was still an avid reader, but the dream of publishing a novel seemed so far away. Until an idea came to me on my commutes to and from work: Margaret’s story. Every day, I started dreaming about this story in my mind, and each day Margaret and her story grew more and more full, more and more vivid, until one day it was like a full-length movie in my mind, and I knew it was time to get Running Home down on paper.
After over a dozen drafts, and a few handfuls of beta readers, Running Home was ready to be pitched to an agent. I never wanted to self-publish. I love to write, and I just wanted to write novels, not sell them. I wanted someone else to handle the “business” of being a writer so I could just focus on writing stories. So I spent a year and a half querying for an agent, during which I received 76 rejections.
After feeling completely deflated, I decided to take my publishing into my own hands. I didn’t put my heart and soul into writing my novel for it to just sit in the dark abyss of my laptop. So as much as self-publishing intimidated me, I decided to dive in. I hired a professional editor and a cover designer. I created a website to house my novels. I purchased formatting software so I could format the pages for printing.
And eventually, I sent my words (and my heart) to the printer. And I’m so glad I did. As I write this, Running Home has 15 reviews on Amazon, all 5 stars, and a 4.53 rating on Goodreads. If I had listened to those 76 agents who all said my novel wasn’t good enough, Running Home would still be sitting in the depths of my laptop, and my lifelong dream of being a published author would be left unfulfilled.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I had challenges along the way. I am a full-time working mom to two young boys who at the time when I started writing were 3 and 6. My husband worked evenings and weekends, so when I was off work, my kids claimed all of my time until it was time to put them to bed.
Once their sweet little heads hit their pillows, I had to decide each day how I was going to spend the remaining time in my night. I had to – and continue to – make writing a priority in my life. It means oftentimes when you come to my house, the place is a mess because it is the first thing to get neglected. I mean, what’s more fun? Chasing your dreams or cleaning your house? I sacrifice sleep to write, edit, and write some more. I get up early in the morning to write before the world fully wakes, or I stay up late, chasing words and crafting stories.
And then there were the rejections. Time and time again, for a year and a half, I was told over and over my story wasn’t good enough. Nobody wanted to represent it. Nobody liked it enough. The imposter syndrome was strangling my dream, choking the light out of my greatest passion. Until I decided that nobody was going to tell me my dream was too big or unattainable. Until I decided to take my dream into my own hands.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a writer. I just wrote and published my debut novel, Running Home. I have two additional novels that I am currently working on A Pocketful of Yesterdays and Melissa A La Cart.
My novels are very character-driven, meaning I hope to create stories where my readers connect to the characters: rooting them on through their struggles, crying with them through their pains, and laughing with them in their good times. I hope I write stories that are impactful and meaningful.
Running Home, for example, is about finding joy through pain and focuses heavily on the relationships in our lives that shape us along the way.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Farmington. We have lived here for just over four years now, and I love the town and the people. Farmington has a small-town feel; the Main Street area is full of life and wonderful shops and restaurants.
Unique, family-owned businesses, not chains and big corporations. Parks can be found on almost every corner it seems, and people are friendly and willing to lend a hand.
Pricing:
- Amazon Kindle – $2.99
- Paperback (Amazon) – $13.99
- Hardcover (Amazon) – $24.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katiemacmillan.com
- Instagram: @katiemacwriter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieMacWriter/
