Fabulous Friday Feature-Renee Ryan

Today we welcome author:

Renee Ryan

One commenter will win a copy 
of Renee's new release: 

Wagon Train Proposal

Great news! 

International readers are invited to enter. 

Renee will send a paperback copy to the winner,

 even International

Mary here. Renee is one of the super authors I met at ACFW. I only had a chance to eat a meal at the same table, but in that short time I felt an immediate connection. Her fun spirit. Her friendliness. Well, I simply had to share with you. I asked Renee to tell us how God led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said:

A Dangerous Indifference

I started writing fiction an entire decade before Kindle, Nook and other modern e-book devices existed. I consider this a huge, unexpected blessing. I wasn’t ready to publish when I began this journey. I had a lot to learn about writing a book. But the pain of rejection (especially in those early years) was difficult. 

I know myself well enough to know that had there been the option of bypassing editors and agents I would have done so. I would have been tempted to take the easy way out and publish my work on my own. That route would have been a disaster. I needed time to learn the craft, to hone my skills and, most importantly, to find my niche. 

I’ve heard it said that back in those days (circa 1996-2006) a writer targeting New York publishers had a 1 in 6,000 chance of landing a book deal. Thankfully, I heard that horrifying statistic after I started submitting manuscripts to editors and agents. 

Again, this was yet another unforeseen blessing. Had I known the odds, I might not have had the courage to send out my initial attempts. Those early rejection letters were both helpful and spot on. Stubborn by nature, once I’d already set my mind on the goal of publication I wasn’t backing down.

In 2001, I found success--five years and five manuscripts later. I hit with a splash by winning the inaugural Dorchester/Romantic Times New Historical Voice Contest. The magazine did a feature on me and my book, a western historical romance. They put a good amount of promotion behind the book. But the sales weren’t great and western historical romances were dead in the secular (ABA) market. I became a one-book wonder within months of EXTREME MEASURES hitting the shelves.

I despaired. I cried, cried some more. I started and finished new projects and continued submitting. But no one was interested. And so began a very looooooong dry spell between book sales. I became so frustrated that I quit writing altogether and cancelled my membership in all of my writers’ groups. I knew I was heading down a dark road. I couldn’t keep chasing the sale and maintain my sanity. I was too obsessed. In fact, the pursuit of publication became my sole mission in life. Something had to change.

I purposely took a step back and started working on my own faith walk, something I had let lag to dangerous indifference. I also started reading books that were not romances, namely thrillers written by men for men. I very quickly realized these books, though well-written and fascinating, lacked the depth of character, emotion and romance I preferred. 

And then it occurred to me. If I was going to collect rejections, I might as well stop playing it safe. I took what I knew about romance writing and what I’d learned from all those male-targeted thrillers and melded the two. I added the Inspirational thread for me, and my Daddy, too, a WWII vet who says, “There are no atheists in foxholes.”

I had no real plans of selling the manuscript, and actually didn’t sell it until many years later, but the writing of it brought me to the Inspirational market. I’d found my niche and went on to sell the next manuscript I wrote, a western historical romance with a strong Inspirational thread. I’ve written and sold eighteen more books since. 

Moral of the story: Swing for the fences, never play it safe and continually work on your relationship with the Lord. The rest will come, in His time and His way. 

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My 91 year-old father (the WWII vet)

Renee Ryan is a multi-published, award-winning author best known for her fast-paced, character-driven romances. She sold her first book by winning the inaugural Romantic Times New Historical Voice Contest. She currently writes contemporary and historical Inspirational Romances for Harlequin Love Inspired and Amazon’s Waterfall Press. An empty-nester, Renee lives in Nebraska with her husband and a large, fluffy cat many have mistaken for a small bear. 

Find out more about Renee at www.reneeryan.com

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CLICK HERE to see or buy
 Wagon Train Proposal

WAGON TRAIN PROPOSAL (June 2015)

For the Sake of His Children 

A marriage of convenience? Rachel Hewitt couldn't possibly accept. Not even for the sake of three adorable little girls who desperately want a new mother. Sheriff Tristan McCullough offers Rachel a home and family, but not the one thing she truly seeks—someone to love her for herself. 

Tristan McCullough hoped to find a wife on the wagon train, not a nanny. The hardworking widower wants a marriage without emotional risks. But independent Rachel intrigues him. One minute she's winning over his shy little girls, and the next she's tackling danger head-on. She might just be Tristan's unexpected second chance at happiness…if he'll risk his wary heart again. 

Journey West: Romance and adventure await three siblings on the Oregon Trail

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CLICK HERE to see or buy
The Marriage Agreement

THE MARRIAGE AGREEMENT (July 2015)

Promoted to Wife? 

Always the dutiful daughter, Fanny Mitchell surprised everyone when she broke her engagement. Now she's working at the fancy Hotel Dupree—and falling for the mysterious, handsome owner, Jonathon Hawkins. But when she and her boss are caught in an unexpected kiss at a ball, will her reputation be tarnished forever? 

The son of a woman of ill repute, Jonathon knows that gossip can destroy lives in an instant. And he won't allow sweet, lovely Fanny to suffer the consequences. When he proposes a marriage of convenience, Jonathon believes he can keep his heart to himself. But the more time he spends with Fanny, the more he realizes he may just be in love—with his wife… 

Charity House: Offering an oasis of hope, faith and love on the rugged Colorado frontier

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To enter the contest for a copy of 

Renee's upcoming new release:

Wagon Train Proposal:

leave a comment (and email address)

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The winner will be announced on my Facebook page

Thank you, Renee, for joining us this weekend!

We love chatting with you and are looking forward to reading your comments and questions. Or at least your hi, hello, or hey.

Thanks for stopping by!

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