From Hidden Threat to Strictly Professional: My Publishing Journey Since 2010

 I recently celebrated my publishing anniversary. My first published novel was released on December 31, 2010. I wanted to share a little about that publishing journey and the evolution of that book.

The first book I ever published was through a small press publishing house called The Writer's Coffee Shop. It doesn't exist anymore, but it was best known for being the original publisher of Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. 

My first book, Hidden Threat, released on the last day of the year. I'd never published a book before. I'd only ever written fan fiction, so I had no experience when it came to marketing.

The first cover we came up with for Hidden Threat, wasn't the best. This goes back to my lack of experience in marketing a book and unfortunately, the publisher was new as well and didn't have much experience in that area either. All the members of the publishing house were avid readers, but being a reader and knowing the right cover to put on a book are two different things.

Hidden Threat was an office romance with corporate espionage. The first cover depicted a woman grabbing hold of a man's tie with the Chicago skyline in the background. Then, we added someone holding a gun to denote the mystery/suspense parts of the story.

While the story did okay upon its release, it had two things going against it. One, I was an unknown author. And two, the cover.

Knowing what I know now, the light blue color scheme isn't really the best color for romance novels, especially steamy romance novels. It doesn't really scream suspense romance. 

I continued to publish books throughout the five years I was with that publisher and ended up being the second highest selling author behind E.L. James. This provided me with a lot of opportunities to go to events and really try to build my brad and my readership.

But after five years, the owner of the publishing house decided to close its doors. All the rights for my books reverted back to me and I had to decide what was next. Did I look for a literary agent and try to get a publishing deal from one of the New York publishing houses?

In the end, I decided to use what I'd learned during my time at TWCS and go down the self publishing route. We were given permission to use all of our edited material. The only thing we had to really do was add a new cover to the books and get new ISBN numbers, then we could re-upload them to retailers.

When I went to do this for Hidden Threat, I quickly realized the name and the vibe I was going for didn't work. Add to that everything I'd learned writing wise as an author and I came to the conclusion that the book needed a complete overhaul.

In the original story, there were five or six different points of view. None of my other books had that. They were all dual point of view between the hero and the heroine.

So of course, I had to fix that. I ended up rewriting the entire story, removing the extra points of view, and beefing up the mystery/suspense elements. By the time it was all said and done, I added an extra 15,000 words to the story.

With the re-write, I also decided to change the title to Strictly Professional, focusing on the office romance. 

This is Matthew and Cali's story. It still takes place in Chicago and is now about 60% romance/40% mystery suspense. It is my only standalone novel. 

If you're looking for a standalone office romance, I'd love for you to give Strictly Professional a try.

Teaser Tuesday - Strictly Professional

 

A phone call from her father sends Cali Stanton back home to Chicago to look after the family business. Being CEO of Stanton Enterprises is never something she wanted to do, but when her father tells her she’s the only one he can trust to run the company in his absence she can’t say no.

Within hours of stepping into her father’s office she comes face-to-face with her father’s head of security, Matthew Andersen. The attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. Unfortunately, Cali can’t act on it. She’s his boss for the next three months and it wouldn’t be appropriate to cross that line.

Little does she know, fate is determined to throw them together at every turn. Someone is after her father’s company and now they've set their sights on her. Can Matthew and Cali figure out who’s behind the threats before it’s too late and still keep things strictly professional?

 

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It's My Publishing Anniversary!

 

 

 

 

Today marks my 12 year anniversary as a published author. On this day, twelve years ago, Hidden Threat (now published as Strictly Professional) was published by a small publisher based out of Australia called The Writer's Coffee Shop. 

 

At the time, I had no idea where this journey would take me, the people I would meet, and the friends I would make. This has been an incredible experience so far and I can't wait to see where it takes me next.

Happy Book Birthday to Strictly Professional!

 

A phone call from her father sends Cali Stanton back home to Chicago to look after the family business. Being CEO of Stanton Enterprises is never something she wanted to do, but when her father tells her she’s the only one he can trust to run the company in his absence she can’t say no.

Within hours of stepping into her father’s office she comes face-to-face with her father’s head of security, Matthew Andersen. The attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. Unfortunately, Cali can’t act on it. She’s his boss for the next three months and it wouldn’t be appropriate to cross that line.

Little does she know, fate is determined to throw them together at every turn. Someone is after her father’s company and now they've set their sights on her. Can Matthew and Cali figure out who’s behind the threats before it’s too late and still keep things strictly professional?

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Not The Pampered Princess - An Excerpt From Strictly Professional

Looking at her sitting across from him at her father’s desk, Matthew wondered if his brother would have the same opinion upon meeting her. Cali did have that air about her that said she came from money, but there was also something else. An edge that he couldn’t quite explain. He’d done his research on her and knew she was twenty-eight and had been working as a doctor with Doctors Without Borders for the last two years. And while he knew working outside the US had its challenges, he couldn’t imagine what she would have seen for him to be getting such a vibe from her. But Matthew had learned long ago to trust his instincts and something told him that she wasn’t a pampered princess as his brother had suggested.

 

Haven't read Matthew and Cali's story? 

 

Click on one of the retailer links below to grab your copy! 

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My First Published Novel - My Publishing Journey Part 5

Once I signed the publishing contract for my first novel, Hidden Threat, it was time to get to work. Matthew and Cali's story had been floating in my head for fifteen years in one form or another, and now it was time to go through it with a fine-tooth comb. I was a bit nervous. 

 

The story was sent to an editor and we began going through the story, chapter by chapter, line by line, to get it ready for publication. If you've never gone through the editing process before, it's daunting. If you're offered a publishing contract, you think your story is pretty good. Then, and editor gets their hands on it and begins picking it apart. It's a very humbling experience.

 

 After going back and forth for a couple of months with the editor making sure to close any plot holes and correct grammar and spelling mistakes, it was time for the book to be formatted and the cover to be designed. I was lucky in that my publisher allowed the authors to have a say in the cover design. A lot of publishers don't.

 

The story was a romantic suspense set in Chicago and I decided to go with a title that reflected that. 

 

Hidden Threat released on December 31, 2010. 

 

Five years after it's release, I got my rights back from the publisher and decided to republish it, but under a new name. I'd learned a lot since I'd released my first novel and while the book had a lot of suspense in it, the romance was the driving factor. I realized that the title Hidden Threat, didn't really fit the vibe of an office romance.

 

So...after doing a complete rewrite which added 15,000 words to the story, I re-released the book under the name Strictly Professional with a new cover and loads of new content. 

 

Strictly Professional hit stores January 2016.

 

Which cover to you like better?

 

 

Happy Book Birthday To Strictly Professional

 

 Ten years ago today I became a published author. My first book, which was then called Hidden Threat, released on December 30, 2010 through The Writer's Coffee Shop publishing house. It was an exciting day for me as I'd never in my wildest dreams thought I would become an author.

Five years later, the publishing house decided to close its doors and I had to decide whether to find another publisher or take the leap into self publishing. In the end, I decided to self publish.

But in the publishing world, five years is a long time. I'd learned a lot about writing and publishing in the five years since Hidden Threat was first released and I decided I wanted to do a bit of revamping before releasing it again to the world.

Instead of just slapping a new cover on the book and republishing it, I decided to do a complete rewrite of the story. There was a lot of head hopping in the original book, something very common for first time authors, and I wanted to fix that to fit more in line with my other, more recently written stories. 

In the end, I added an additional 15,000 words to the original story and changed the title of the book to Strictly Professional to better showcase this sexy office romance. 

Cali and Matthew's story will always be close to my heart because their romance was my first published novel. It set me on this path of writing and publishing...a path I never imagined going down, but that I absolutely love. 

To find out more about Cali and Matthew's story, or to pick up a copy, click HERE.

 

Etsy - Buy Signed Copies Of Books By Sherri Hayes #Romance

I'd been going back and forth trying to figure out the best way for readers to order signed copies of my books. I'd tried Google forms in the past, but unless I check it every day it doesn't work all that well and I'd much rather use that time writing instead of checking a form.

A couple of months ago I came across another author who was using Etsy to offer signed books to readers for purchase. I did a little research, talked to a few other authors about it, and decided to give it a go.

All of my full length novels are available now on Etsy. 

Click HERE to get to my Etsy store.

***Note: Short stories are not available in print. Please click on the covers to the right to purchase the ebook versions.***

Enter to Win an iPad Mini December 26th - 31st

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Strictly Professional - On Sale this week only for $2.99

A phone call from her father sends Cali back home to Chicago to look after the family business. Being CEO of Stanton Enterprises is never something she wanted to do, but when her father tells her she’s the only one he can trust to run the company in his absence she can’t say no. 

Within hours of stepping into her father’s office she comes face-to-face with her father’s head of security, Matthew Andersen. The attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. Unfortunately, Cali can’t act on it. She’s his boss for the next three months and it wouldn’t be appropriate to cross that line. 

Little does she know, fate is determined to throw them together at every turn. Someone is after her father’s company and now he’s set his sights on her. Can Matthew and Cali figure out who’s behind the threats before it’s too late and still keep things strictly professional?

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Celebrate Cyber Monday With a 50% Rebate at All Romance Ebooks

Don't miss out on the chance to get a 50% rebate on all purchases over at All Romance Ebooks.

Finding Anna

***This is book 1 of a 4 book series.***

Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent's death. As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and mentor, Daren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he'd be in, Stephan can't walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how. 

Brianna knows only one thing: she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing. Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

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***This is book 2 of a  4 book series.*** 

As Brianna comes to terms with the realization that she is no longer a slave, she must figure out what she wants for her life. Forgetting her past isn’t an option. It is an integral part of who she is now, and it will forever shape her view of life. The one thing she knows is that she cannot imagine her life without the man who saved her, but can she be what he needs? 

Stephan never imagined falling in love with the woman he rescued, but the thought of her no longer being part of his life is physically painful. The scars from her past continue to haunt her, and he is helpless to stop them. All he can do is try to help her work through the traumas of her past. Can he be everything she needs and help her move on?

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***This is book 2 of a  4 book series.***

For the last two months, Brianna has discovered something she never thought she would again. Hope. After the horror of being Ian’s slave for ten months, a fate she never imagined she’d escape, it feels as if she is living a dream. She has freedom she hadn’t expected to have again, and she wakes up every morning not fearing what the day will bring. There is also Stephan. The man who saved her from the daily torture she had to endure at the hands of Ian and his friends. The same man who makes her heart race with just the thought of him. Life is good.

Outside forces are determined to conspire against them, however. When Brianna’s father shows up on her doorstep, it sends her world spiraling out of control. He brings with him new information about how Brianna ended up in Ian’s clutches, but will it make a difference? Will Stephan be able to find a way to make Ian pay for all he made Brianna suffer? As Brianna and Stephan try to find out the truth, their relationship is tested. She is forced to face her past head on, and deal with the ugly reality of what happened to her. Will Stephan’s love be enough to see her through her newest challenge, or will the fragile trust they’ve built come crumbling down around them as the truth makes itself known. 

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***Book 4 of a 4 book series***

Brianna is lost for the fourth time in her life. The first life-altering event occurred when her mother died. The second was when she was kidnapped at the age of seventeen and forced to be a slave. She would never forget those ten months. 

Everything changed again the day Stephan steamrolled into her life. That first month with him was, in some ways, more confusing than the prior ten. As a slave, she’d known her place. With Stephan everything was new and different. He’d given her freedom and so much more.

Five months after Stephan rescued her, Brianna once again finds her life flipped upside down.
In this fourth, and final, installment of Finding Anna, Brianna must unearth strength she never knew she possessed. She must learn to trust herself, embrace who she is, and discover who she wants to be. Only by facing her demons can Brianna find true happiness and peace.

                                             Buy Now

Daniels Brothers

Trent Daniels only has one regret in life. Nearly fifteen years ago, he let his high school crush, Abby Hoffman, go off to college in New York City without telling her how he felt. Ever since, he’s wondered what would have happened if he’d been bold enough to tell her his feelings.

Abigail Hoffman left Ohio behind long ago and with it the family that had taken her in and embraced her as one of their own. She’s missed the Daniels family, but she couldn’t bring herself to face them again—not after what happened. Now her job has brought her back to the place she’s done her best to avoid and right smack into Trent Daniels. 

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Strictly Professional 

A phone call from her father sends Cali back home to Chicago to look after the family business. Being CEO of Stanton Enterprises is never something she wanted to do, but when her father tells her she’s the only one he can trust to run the company in his absence she can’t say no.

Within hours of stepping into her father’s office she comes face-to-face with her father’s head of security, Matthew Andersen. The attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. Unfortunately, Cali can’t act on it. She’s his boss for the next three months and it wouldn’t be appropriate to cross that line.

Little does she know, fate is determined to throw them together at every turn. Someone is after her father’s company and now he’s set his sights on her. Can Matthew and Cali figure out who’s behind the threats before it’s too late and still keep things strictly professional?

                                          Buy Now

***This is an extended epilogue to Strictly Professional. It is highly recommended you read that story first.***

Matthew Andersen knows he wants to spend the rest of his life with Cali Stanton. Since she came into his life just five months ago, his world has completely changed for the better. With everything in their lives finally coming together, he's determined to make their first Christmas a memorable one.

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Serpent's Kiss

After losing her husband unexpectedly, Katrina Mayer decided to open Serpent’s Kiss. She wanted it to be a place where she and her fellow kinksters could play and socialize. 

Five years after the doors opened, the club is everything she’d hoped it would be. On Friday and Saturday nights, Serpent’s Kiss is filled with men and women who share a similar desire to explore the pleasures BDSM has to offer. The club has continued to grow, and over the years, many of its members have become friends.

The one thing Katrina didn’t expect when she’d decided to open a club was the human drama that came with it. Learning to balance her life as the club mistress has taken some getting used to, but she wouldn’t change a thing.

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Beth Davenport has no interest in getting involved with another man for the foreseeable future. To say her last relationship ended in disaster would be a colossal understatement. The only reason she agrees to put in an appearance at Serpent’s Kiss, a private kink club in downtown St. Louis, is because her best friend, Nicole, won’t quit nagging her. When she walks in the door that night, the last thing she expects to do is meet a man who will have her reconsidering her ban on men.

As a captain with the St. Louis Fire Department, Drew Parker is used to being in charge. His crew relies on him to make sure they know what they’re doing and return home to their families after every shift. It isn’t, however, what he wants in a relationship. Drew decides to join Serpent’s Kiss to see if what appeals to him in fantasy is something he wants to explore in the real world. He’s also hoping that he’ll be lucky enough to meet a woman with whom he can explore his desires. The night Beth walks into the club, he is intrigued. Drew has to get to know her better.

After what happened to her, Beth is reluctant to get involved with Drew. It doesn’t matter that he is sweet and charming. She’s been burned before and Beth doesn’t think she can survive having her heart crushed again. Drew, however, won’t take no for an answer. He wants a relationship and is determined to chip away at her defenses until she relents. Will she give him a chance, or did her ex leave her with scars too deep to heal?

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Justin has had a crush on his best friend’s little sister, Kim, since high school. When she shows up on his doorstep, offering herself to him for one night, will he be able to say no? Or will he give in to one forbidden night with the woman who has haunted his dreams for years?

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And Old Book Gets A New Look #officeromance

For the last couple of months I've been wrestling back and forth with what to do with my very first published novel. There is always a learning curve when it comes to writing and marketing. Back in 2010 when I published Hidden Threat I had no concept of who I was going to be as a writer. Now, after almost six years I have a better understanding of the direction I want to take my career.

In that vain, I took a hard look at my first novel. It was originally published through The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House as a romantic suspense novel. But as I've gotten to understand the industry more, I've realized it doesn't really fit in that genre.

Most romantic suspense novels focus more on the suspense and the romance is secondary to the plot. That's not what happens in my story. Sure there is plenty of suspense, but there is also lots of romance...more romance than suspense.

So what do to...

The answer was to repackage the story. Based on genre expectations, my novel isn't romantic suspense. It's contemporary office romance with suspenseful elements. Which meant it needed not only a new cover, but a new title and a new blurb.

A phone call from her father sends Cali back home to Chicago to look after the family business. Being CEO of Stanton Enterprises is never something she wanted to do, but when her father tells her she’s the only one he can trust to run the company in his absence she can’t say no.

Within hours of stepping into her father’s office she comes face-to-face with her father’s head of security, Matthew Andersen. The attraction is instantaneous and undeniable. Unfortunately, Cali can’t act on it. She’s his boss for the next three months and it wouldn’t be appropriate to cross that line.

Little does she know, fate is determined to throw them together at every turn. Someone is after her father’s company and now he’s set his sights on her. Can Matthew and Cali figure out who’s behind the threats before it’s too late and still keep things strictly professional?

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