Lisa Dayley's YA historical fiction book, The Frozen Trail, has sold thousands of copies since its publication in July, 2011, in both print and e-book format.
And the funny thing is
that this book almost never got published. I asked Lisa to share her experience-- how she almost gave up, and what kept her going.
"The
Frozen Trail resulted from a college creative writing assignment in 1991. It
had proven popular with my class and family members, so I kept it and worked on
it here and there.
"I was very busy working and raising children so the
manuscript went neglected for years. About ten years ago I suddenly found myself
with a lot of time on my hands. The newspaper I worked for downsized, and I
needed something to do. I dusted off my old manuscript and started writing
again.
"Thanks to
the Internet I was able learn more about my
great-great-grandmother Emma Girdlestone and her trek across the country. She
was the basis for the story. I put
together a book of about 44 chapters that went from what I call the Rocky
Ridge Experience, the most harrowing part of her ordeal, and ended with her
second husband, my great-great-grandfather Ralph Smith, being called on a
Mormon mission.
"I self published the book and sold
quite a few copies on my own. I was just thrilled to sell one!
"One day I got an email about a BYU Publishing Fair and decided to go. I took
down three copies of my book and handed them out to publishers. I just wanted to say that I
had done it but convinced myself that no one would give me the time of day.
"About six
weeks later I got the shock of my life. WiDo Publishing wanted the first 14 chapters of my book! I thought I was seeing things and
when I realized somebody had accepted my book I started screaming and crying.
Everybody at work thought somebody had died, and one co-worker threatened to
slap me silly.
"I started
the long rewrite process. I had no idea
what I was doing. I sent the manuscript back and forth to WiDo for about two
years. During that time I spent a considerable amount of time on my knees
praying to get the story right (or is it ‘write’?).
At one point
I was so discouraged I came just a mouse click away from asking WiDo out of the
contract. I felt I just couldn’t do it anymore. I had been a journalist for 25
years and this creative writing was about to do me in. Creative writing is
hard!
"I don’t know what changed my mind other than the fact that I had spent my
entire life dreaming of becoming a published novelist, and I wasn’t about to
let the opportunity go.
"Finally, I
decided to let the Spirit take over. After doing
some research to see exactly what happened on Rocky Ridge and
those involved, I would sit at my computer and write whatever came.
"Whether that
was Emma herself, the Holy Ghost, or some other divine being, I just wrote what
I believe was dictated to me. I had had a similar experience with this
“dictation” with the first two chapters that seemed to really capture
everyone’s attention. Some people refer to that as “channeling” where an unseen
being is doing the writing, and you’re just the instrument being used to type
it all in.
"I found that
this giving in – rather than relying on suggested writing tools (and they are
only suggestions) – really helped me get the job done. FINALLY.
"I am so very
glad I stuck with it as the book has proven a best seller on Amazon. While it
was written for everybody, children seem to really enjoy it. It is also
catching on in the adult market.
"If anyone
would like to talk to me about my experience, they’re more than welcome to
contact me at lisawdayley@gmail.com."
Lisa, thank you so much for stopping by today and sharing your inspiring story!
About The Frozen Trail:
The Frozen Trail is a novella set in the American West. It is written in
a simple, clear style, making it suitable for younger readers as well
as adults.
In 1856 the Mormon pioneers trekked across the Great
Plains in wagon trains and pulling handcarts, to find a new home safe
from persecution. This is the story of one 18-year-old young woman, Emma
Girdlestone, of the Willie Handcart Company, who faced starvation,
frostbite, and death so she and her family could join their fellow
Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley.
This work of
historical fiction is dedicated to the members of the Willie Handcart
Company. These courageous pioneers displayed commitment and heroism in
the face of unbelievably harsh and brutal conditions while en route to
Zion.
It is especially dedicated to Willie Handcart member, Emma
Girdlestone, who left behind a legacy of bravery, fortitude, and faith;
and who, 155 years later, managed to change the life of her
great-great-granddaughter Lisa Dayley, the author of this book.
"The winter of 1856 was an intensely bitter one, and wind nipped cruelly
at the pioneers of the Willie Handcart companies as they trudged their
way across the frozen plains. The experiences and hardships faced by the
pioneers of those companies is something difficult to put into words,
and even more difficult to understand, but Lisa Dayley has somehow done
just that." --Weekly News Journal, Mini-Cassia, ID
"A thrill to read, Lisa Dayley crafts a genuine pioneer story with just
the right mix of fact and fiction. You’ll find this book hard to put
down." ~Jay Lenkersdorfer, newspaper publisher and columnist
