A few days ago, I wrote about my writing journey from 2006 to 2017. Today’s post completes the look back from 2018 to 2025.
One thing that became clear as I built these diagrams was the years of juggling multiple novels. (See boxes outlined in red.) Another clear insight is how long it takes to complete a novel, try to sell it, and then make the decision to self-publish. I spent a lot of time working with agents – three of them – without achieving the goal of securing a publisher.
2018-2021 has a similar pattern of multiple books, a new agent, significant time spent enhancing my ‘platform’ through this blog, an author website, and a newsletter, and a new approach of hiring support for marketing activities and social media. Despite feedback on the excellence of my novels (both story and writing), the agents I’ve worked with were unable to sell my novels.
- do I write the wrong stories?
- do I choose the wrong agents?
- are my efforts too scattered?
- do I spend too much time blogging?
- should I have written more Canadian-based novels?
- is there some flaw in my writing style?
Sadly, my experience isn’t unique. I’ve spoken with many authors hoping to break through the walls around traditional publishing that keep getting thicker and higher. Indie publishing is also a challenge … how does one find readers in a market of abundance (over 100K English novels are published each year)? How does one keep up with the ever-changing Amazon algorithms and a rapidly changing social media landscape?
From 2022 to present, I self-published The Admiral’s Wife and That Was Then (my first contemporary novel). Both won indie awards. River of Time, the sequel to Paris In Ruins, is stuck at 50K words. Lack of imagination? Uncertainty about the storyline? A highlight to celebrate has been two novels for my grandsons (initially two grandsons in The Magical Tree and then three grandsons in A King’s Knight).
2025 has been tumultuous and it’s only May! The US political situation and its impact on my country, Canada, has been seriously stressful. Stress is not conducive to creativity or productivity! However, a bright spot has been outlining a new novel – working title When You Left – with a story element sparked by my mother’s life and the men she loved – yes, there were more than one 🙂
A hugely rewarding aspect of the years since 2012 is the number of friends (authors, bloggers, and readers) I’ve made in the historical fiction community. We count on each other, we help each other, we celebrate each other. It’s truly a marvellous group of women and men.
Along the way there have been many accomplishments. When I began this journey I never imagined writing and publishing 6 novels and 2 children’s novels. Nor did I imagine the wonderful messages I’ve received over the years from readers, the recognition my novels have received, and the connections that have come with this community. Beyond all that was the opportunity to learn and to challenge myself.
Like everything in life, there are successes and setbacks. But I’m not giving up. That new novel beckons and I promised my grandsons another story.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about reading and/or writing historical fiction.
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M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel THAT WAS THEN is a contemporary thriller. Mary’s other novels, THE ADMIRAL’S WIFE, PARIS IN RUINS, TIME AND REGRET, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook or on her website www.mktod.com.
