Today we bring you two more stories of writers realizing they wanted to be writers.
Alyssa Day
The moment everything changed for me was when I volunteered to pick up an editor (Kate Seaver, then at a small indie publisher, now at Penguin Random House) from the airport for a writers’ conference. We chatted on the drive to the hotel, and I told her about a novel I had in mind. I was working all the time, and I had two small children, so I’d been dithering about writing it. Did anybody really want to hear my stories? (I’d already published a nonfiction book about being a military family during wartime, but I’d wanted to be a fiction author since I was a little girl reading Nancy Drew.) I didn’t even have a title for the novel yet. I just called it Tuna Fish Girl, because the heroine liked tuna sandwiches. (Yes, I know. Awful!)
But I told her about it, and she laughed so hard and said, “If you can write like you can tell a story, that’s going to be a wonderful book.” After that conference, she kept in touch with me, and kept saying, “Send me Tuna Fish Girl!”
So, finally, I did. My agent sent the editor my proposal (a synopsis and 50 pages) on a Friday, and I had an offer to buy it Monday morning. They wanted to launch their new chick-lit line with my book! We even went to auction with other publishers wanting to buy it. (No, everything in publishing does NOT go this well. Think: roller coaster.) I was so ready to quit being a lawyer and try writing full time, so I jumped at Kate’s offer.
I’ve never changed my mind about being an author, even during the tough years. It’s hard sometimes, making this job work, since I have chronic bouts of clinical depression, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love creating worlds and inviting readers into them, and I will never get over the wonder of writing.
Alyssa’s Featured Release
NOBODY’S QUEST
(June 2, 2026; adult romantasy)
Prophecy insists that nobody will defeat the goddess of war.
Meet Nobody.
For a hundred years, Altarra has burned. The goddess of war, Morrigan, has conquered kingdom after kingdom, leaving only ruin in her wake. Every prophecy says the same thing―nobody can defeat her.
And after a century of failure, someone finally takes that literally.
When the goddess Artemisen chooses Soli Graymind―a nobody from the lowest caste who suffers from chronic depression―to lead one last desperate quest, the world laughs. But Soli won’t be alone. She’s joined by five others just as broken, just as lost:
A thief with no Guild.
A noble with no wealth.
A sorcerer with no hope.
A warrior with no morals.
And a prince with no kingdom―the one man she can’t stop thinking about, even when hope itself is dying.
Together, they are Altarra’s last chance.
Because maybe being a “nobody” is more powerful than anyone imagines―including themselves.
Stephanie Burgis
The first time I realized that becoming a writer was an actual possibility – that real people wrote all the books that I loved, and wrote those books as their actual grown-up JOB (whoa!!!) – I was seven years old, and the discovery BLEW MY MIND. I still remember turning to my mom that day, as we drove out on an errand, to share my epiphany:
“I’ve found something I love even more than reading: writing. I’m going to be a WRITER!”
Of course, because my mom is a smart and practical woman, she responded instinctively, before she could stop herself, “Oh, God. Really?”
As a mom now myself, let me tell you: I get it. What loving and practical mother would want their kid to pin their hopes onto such a scary-sounding, unreliable-paycheck of a career? My family didn’t know any novel writers. We knew vets and math professors and civil servants and other people who made their living with steady, reliable salaries. Good, safe jobs. (Or at least, so they all seemed at the time. All of my friends in academia are laughing hollowly at this point.)
By the time I was an adult, I knew just how unlikely it was that I would ever really be able to become a professional author. But that just made me all the more determined to put my whole heart into becoming the best that I could be, applying for competitive writing workshops, searching out reliable critique groups, and researching publishing even as I majored in different subjects in college and made firm plans for dayjobs to pay my rent.
I sold my first trilogy of novels when I was 31, 17 years ago. Since then, I’ve published a surprising number of books in more than one genre, and I’ve even won a few awards – but even now, every time I sell a new series to a traditional publisher or get a good review for one of my self-published books, I still find myself thinking with tentative hope, “Wow. This really might work out after all!”
I don’t ever take this career for granted…but I’m incredibly grateful for it every single day.
Stephanie’s Featured Release
WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN
Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.
When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…
Little does Saskia know that the “wizard” she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he’s in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?
Thank you for doing these! I really enjoy them! 🤗
First certified 🙂
Whoo hoo! That hasn’t happened in a long time for me. Maybe that means my day will get luckier. 🤞🏻😄
These are always so fun to read!!
I love these posts so much! They make a long week so much better.
I love these posts! And I get to add to my TBR – and hopefully add another name or two to my insta-buy author list!!! WOOOO!!!!
But what was the eventual title of Tuna Fish Girl?
Alyssa Day’s first published book is entitled Alejandro’s Sorceress 🙂
I just looked up Alejandro’s Sorceress on Amazon and it was free so I ordered it.
It was American Idle. My first Alyssa Day book was Atlantis Rising. Thanks!!
It was American Idle. My first Alyssa Day book was Atlantis Rising. Thanks!!
Nice!
Also just saw Subterranean Press’ announcement of a second printing of their limited edition of The Innkeeper Chronicles Volume 1. That should be pleasant news to the BDH!
Thanks for the heads up from Subterranean Press.
More to come on Monday 🙂
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
You just made my month! Not even made my day, the whole month! Maybe even the rest of the season! 🤗
(insert a crazy excited happy dance here) 💃
Thank you! Stay safe everyone who are in the path of the very bad winter storm here in the US.
All of the above. Love these micro-memoirs.
Unless the forecast gets a lot milder, this is truly the big one. Sbiten is on my to-do list Saturday, because I’ll want it Sunday in between shoveling sessions. Tomorrow’s list includes finalizing how to get our small neighborhood’s half mile of road plowed.
It’s not a county road, so we’re on our own. Aside from those who can’t afford to miss work, we need it clear enough that emergency equipment can get in if needed. None of us have anything bigger than a lawn tractor.
It sounds like one guy can borrow a tractor from his job, but I’m not sure how he’s going to make that timing work unless he brings it home on a trailer the night before. I have a few contacts who might be able to put us on their schedules if not.
Our electrical coop is awesome, but the scope of this storm is scary.
honestly, we did it one year with packs of teenagers, shovels, vats of hot chocolate, & mountains of hot sandwiches.
the neighbor at the end had a heart problem. teenager A got worried & called teenager B. they started tunneling to each other with parents kept them good. another teenager joined in & expanded their network. then the adults started widening it. eventually it was wide enough for an emergency vehicle.
it was a LOT of work & we all ran out of hot cocoa, coffee, & muscle rub… but we got out. when it was over we had a street pizza party with the first teenagers as the guests of honor.
This is so great to hear. Teenagers can definitely be a force for good; in my experience, the ones who complain most about them are the ones who spend the least time around teenagers.
Same issue in this neighborhood: Health problems in the family at the very end of the road. At this point, we are likely to get less than a quarter of the snow originally predicted, and the rest will be ice.
So fire trucks will be able to get in if necessary, just slowly. And if we lose power, vulnerable folks will still be able to get out to someplace warm. Slowly. Never have I ever filled up the bathtub, but I will this time.
Thank you for continuing this set of posts re: author journeys! Informative and nspiring!
Sending peace, health and safety to all!
PS. Cool avatar pic, ModR, to tie into the next shiny!
Congrats to all who realize their dream careers. Great new authors for me in the bargain. Great art work for the covers. Draws me in for sure. I always pick a cover I like (read male lead). Lol. I also must have at least 4 stars in review. Thanks to all you great writers who save my psyche every day. Write on, right on.
Thank you for both encouraging me as a writer and giving me more writers to read! I already enjoy Stephanie’s work and can recommend her Kat series for younger (and older) readers too: Regencies with magic. And have preordered Enchanting the Fae Queen. (I’m a big fan.)
two of my favourite authors….Loved Wooing – and Alyssa Day was my transition out of historical romances to fantasy romances.
Awww. I love that!!
Wow. Now I have more books to buy
Thank you to both HA and the authors who shared their stories. I’m firmly a reader but enjoy the peek behind the scenes, as it were, on the authors’ journeys.
Please stock up on supplies and firewood and generator fuel if you are in the storm’s path. I know our favorite authors are careful and storm savvy but not everyone realizes that storm paths can change quickly and ice can cause outages in lots of ways! Snow can also pile up fast too. Please be sensible about safety and how much a person can do and don’t go out shoveling alone if the conditions are bad. I’m old and have learned I have to be more careful now! We are just getting dangerously cold temps with a few inches of snow and I’m going to cut out a spare baby quilt. This time of year I find myself craving pink and some pastel fabrics. I found some flower fairy fabric in a sale room before Christmas and snapped it up. It is based on illustrations from a set of English children’s books from the early 20th century. I have the co-ordinating fabric in my stash. Happy crafting everyone and stay safe!
Very cool insights! Love the look at books I’d never probably come across too
I absolutely loved Wooing the Witch Queen. I’m so excited for book 2! (five more days!!!!)
Nobody’s Quest sounds great, I’ll be checking it out in June. I am curious which one is Tuna Fish Girl?
Nevermind, found the title in the comments!
It was American Idle. My first Alyssa Day book was Atlantis Rising. Thanks!!
Thank you! These stories are so interesting, but just curious – I wonder how did Alyssa Day just happen to know that that editor needed to be picked up? And Alyssa wasn’t a professional author then, so how did it come about that she was at a writers’ conference?
I was trying to learn about writing fiction so I joined the Seattle chapter of Romance Writers Of America. And I volunteered to help drive editors to and from the airport for their annual conference as a good way to get to know people. Thanks!
Random note: If you use Storygraph to track your reads, among their current giveaway contests is the audio version of This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me! Storygraph is free to join and the giveaway is free to all members.
Just found Wooing The Witch on Kindle Unlimited! Thank-You so much for new authors!
I am eagerly waiting for the sequel to “Wooing the Witch Queen.” I enjoyed it very much and have been reading Stephanie Burgis’ older books while I wait. She writes very entertaining characters and amusing plots.
Now to go look up Alyssa Day.
How interesting! Hard Work and belief in self seems to be a thread running through all of their stories. Every book sounds wonderful, can’t wait!
I’ve enjoyed Alyssa Day’s Tiger Eye mysteries – fun reads!
Thanks!!
wow, those books looked fun. however, almost 30 USD for the first book is excessive. Fortunately, the second one is definitely in my price range.
Both books definitely twist the tropes and that’s a good thing!
Hardbound vs paperback costs.
And hence why I am still very grateful for my local library.
Time to check out a new author, I’ve read several of Alyssa Day’s titles and she makes me smile.
Also thanks! You made ME smile. ❤️
I hear you. Libraries FTW!
I read WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN and it was good. I am waiting for the next one out which is Enchanting the Fae Queen. It is supposed to be out January 27, 2026.
Stay safe and warm everyone!
I really love this “series”. Keep them coming!
Thank you for posting these stories! It’s interesting to see what makes authors do what they do. I’m really enjoying this. I read Alyssa Day when she wrote American Idle under Alesia Holliday. Different genre, but a fun read.
Oh wow thanks!! American Idle IS Tuna Fish Girl!
i like Alyssa Day’s sense of humor through her books. here are some of my favorite quotes:
from Atlantis Unmasked:
“call me goldilocks again and you’ll find that my boot fits your ass juuuust riiiiiight.”
from Vampire in Atlantis:
“why are you smiling? what kind of deep-shit massive trouble have you brought me that could possibly cause you to move your rusty face muscles like that?”
from Apple of My Eye:
“that is the craziest thing i’ve ever heard.”
“so. you’re in?”
“i’m in.”
from Private Eye:
“with heroic restraint, i did not bang my head against the wall, even once.”
from Evil Eye:
“did you really just tell me to run along? you do realize that brutal predators and even master vampires have cowered at the mere sight of me, right?”
“yet somehow here i am, not cowering.”
from Eye of the Storm:
“i swear if this is uncle Mike calling to make sure you’re being a gentleman-”
“i already got that call about an hour ago. he asked me how i’m doing, and then casually mentioned how he’d always ‘sorta, kinda’ wanted to go on a tiger hunt, but he figured tigers had never done anything to him, so he’d left them alone, but that could always change.”
from Blink of an Eye:
“doesn’t it get tiresome? the way women fall at your feet wherever you go?”
“i keep hoping you will.”
“sadly, if i fell at your feet, we both know it would be out of sheer klutziness.”
I kind of love this. 🤣❤️