Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Hawkins
Hi Dana, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since I was little, I’ve fallen asleep telling myself a story in my head. Over the years, that story evolved and matured, but it essentially stayed the same concept. A year into the pandemic, I wrote this story down. Once I put pen to paper (or more, fingers to the keypad), the story took on a life of its own. Within two months, I’d written 150,000 words of a book. For context, that is close to a 600-page book. I obviously had a lot to say! So, I edited and polished while reading everything I could on the writing craft. And then, I searched for an agent. Anyone who has wanted to be a traditionally published author with one of the “big” publishing houses and has searched for an agent can probably commiserate how the process is draining and time-consuming. I wrote another book to keep my mind occupied during the agent search. And then another… and then another.
Again, during this time, I continued to study the writing craft. I read books on how to hone my writing skills, attended online conferences, watched Masterclass videos, listened to podcasts, and read books for leisure. Eventually, I found a mid-size publisher who accepted both agented and un-agented manuscripts. I sent them my manuscript, and they offered me a two-book deal. So the third book I wrote, NOT IN THE PLAN, is the one that became my debut. Fast forward to now, I have three books out with them and just signed a three-book deal for a new series based in Minnesota, which will begin releasing in August. And, I found an agent!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road! The last formal writing class I took was in the 90s. I didn’t even start writing stories until well into my 40s. I battled a severe case of imposter syndrome, and I felt like I was playing constant catch-up. Facing so many rejections, which is part of the business, wore me down a bit.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an author specializing in adult romance. I generally write sapphic rom-coms, but that is expanding a bit. I can’t talk too much about it, but some really fun things are on the horizon (those darn NDAs! But hopefully, in the next few short months, I can announce some things.)
Mostly, I am proud that I had a dream of being a published author and getting an agent, and I kept going until I made those dreams happen. As of today, tens of thousands of my books have been read—which literally blows my mind—and I was the #1 best seller on the gay and lesbian charts on Kindle. I constantly pinch myself where I landed.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For those who dream of being a published author, do not let anyone tell you it’s impossible. But also do not let anyone tell you it’s easy. The journey to becoming a traditionally published author is not easy. It takes a lot of time, energy, dedication, and rejection (so much rejection). You must find a balance between being humble and delusionally confident. But it is possible. If you love writing and want to make this happen, you can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://danahawkins.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.hawkinsauthor/
