As I listened recently to author Lois Szymanski talk to writers about different ways to get published, I was
reminded of an old Frank Sinatra song, “My Way.”
Like Frank, she did it her way.
As an author of 27 books, she was well qualified to
discuss publishing, marketing your work without an agent and viable ways to
sell your work other than inside the pages of a book.
Perhaps because of the approaching birth of my first
grandchild, Lois’ mention of a sonogram of her book caught my attention.
She explained that while she was writing, she told
her children that she was pregnant with a book. So when the cover came in the
mail her daughter ran in and said “Mom You’ve got a sonogram of your book.” The
term was repeated with future book covers.
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| Book signing at Constellation Books |
Lois combined her love of family, horses and writing
to form a successful career. She helped build her writing credits with
publication in at least 50 magazines, such as Highlights for Children and
Weekly Reader.
“I wrote a lot of rebus,” she said. A rebus is a
story of 100 words or less with characters, conflict and a resolution.
She started her career by selling nine novels for
young readers to Avon Books, a large publishing house. After her editor left
the publishing industry, she began self-marketing manuscripts and selling to
small presses.
When her first nine books went out of print she
resold the rights to those books to HarperFestival - a division of
HarperCollins for a series called Charming
Ponies. This also led her to sign a contract to do ghostwriting for the
HarperCollins group.
Since then she has written picture books and fiction
for young and middle grade readers, as well as numerous fiction and nonfiction books for adults.
Her love of horses is
reflected in her writing. Her favorite book as a child was Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. Lois’
first published book was Patches by
Avon.
The idea for the book Little Icicle, came from a story told by an old man she met at
Chincoteaque. A Kindle edition of Little
Icicle is now available on Kindle. Westminster artist and author Lona Queen
provided the cover art.
“You should build a body of work,” Lois said. “Think
about everything in your life and write about it.”
She recommended going to writing conferences and paying
extra for a critique, participating in pitch wars, entering publisher contests,
and considering small presses. Self-publishing also is fine, she said, but hire
an editor.
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| Catherine Donaldson reading a Gettysburg Ghost Gang book |
After you are published you can promote your books
by writing articles, building an author page, or using Twitter, Facebook and
other social media. You need to promote yourself and your book.
Lois encouraged writers to think outside the box. She uses non-book items such as horse note
cards, jigsaw puzzles and identification cards.
“Persevere, follow all avenues, do not let your work
stay out of print, she said. “Always ask for a reversion of rights in your
contract.”
The
True Story of Seafeather was edited and published again in
2011. The book tells how she and her husband were able to purchase a pony for
their children and about the creation of The Feather Fund, which helps children
purchase Chincoteaque pony foals. (www.featherfund.net
or visit them on Facebook).
I’ve known Lois for about 10 years and have been
impressed by her enthusiasm, optimism and easy way of communicating. I look
forward to buying more Gettysburg Ghost
Gang books co-authored by Lois and Shelly Sykes and many of her other books
for my grandson as he grows and learns.
I will always remember his sonograms in connection with Lois' books.
Check out her columns and articles in the Carroll County Times and visit her on the web at www.loisszymanski.com If you want to write for children,
look into her writing classes at Carroll Community College.
Lois also is a former Regional Advisor and supporter of the MD/DE/WV Chapter of
the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrator.
