Trusting the Story

Writer Annie Seyler and her book coach, Michele Orwin, are celebrating the publication of Annie’s contemporary fiction novel, The Widsom of Winter, through Atmosphere Press on Dec. 13!

What publishing route was taken for this project?

Hybrid publishing.

What did you do to celebrate the achievement of publishing a book?

I've celebrated many milestones along the way with my book coach, Michele Orwin, and with close friends and family. I haven't yet reached a singular moment that feels like I can stop and rest and say "Wow, I did it". There's always a next phase — more learning, more stretching, more magic.

How long did you work with a book coach on this project?

18 months.

What are you most proud of in terms of this book’s journey?

I'm proud of the moment when I decided to trust the story — as if it was its own entity. Because of this, the expert editorial feedback I received felt like a gift. As if the story had been asking but I couldn't hear it. The editors could. And they clearly loved the story. The editing process was therefore joyful for me. The rewrites, the cutting . . . it was all about tuning the story to its highest potential.

Was there ever a moment of doubt about the book?

Someone in the book publishing world read the opening chapters of the initial draft and said the book likely needed to be overhauled from start to finish because they didn't know why they were in the main character's life. Since no other human had read the story at that point, the feedback felt like absolute truth. I thought I'd failed. I doubted myself as a writer. I doubted the value of the story. Came close to shoving it under my bed and leaving it there.

What’s next for The Wisdom of Winter?

Get the novel on local book shelves. Strategically market book online. Pursue targeted book award opportunities. Prepare to maximize forthcoming professional editorial reviews. Expand my social media presence in a sustainable and authentic way. Encourage consumer reviews. Field inquiries via my website.

Would you recommend book coaching to get to this point in the writing journey?

Yes! Fit is key. And timing. Michele Orwin has been a phenomenal mentor and ally from the get-go. Her love of the story and her belief in its place in the world has helped fuel me through countless moments of doubt and fear. She's authentic. Honest. Kind. Smart. Experienced. She's been my Obi-Wan. Her voice floating in my head saying "Feel the force, Luke . .. you got this".

What are the next steps in your career?

Steward this novel out into the world to the best of my ability and when I get the internal nudge, begin a new book.