The publishing industry is a challenging, competitive business. Thank goodness the writing community behind publishing is supportive and positive. Let me introduce you to one of the people who makes the online writing community so great: Jillian Boehme.
For over ten years, Jillian has supported writers as “Authoress” through her blog “Miss Snark’s First Victim”. She has shared writing advice and her personal journey to publication, as well as many contests that give aspiring authors the chance to get their work in front of agents. I was lucky enough to participate in the Baker’s Dozen contest on Jillian’s blog, and through it, an agent requested to read my full manuscript. (Most agents request to read the full manuscript of just a few of the writing samples they see, so I was thrilled.) The agent ultimately passed on my work, but it was exciting and encouraging to get “a bite”.
Today is a big day for Jillian. Her YA fantasy debut novel, STORMRISE, releases today! We love fantasy and dragons in our house, so I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. If you also enjoy fantasy and want to support a kind, creative person who has contributed so much to the book world, please check out STORMRISE. Here’s the blurb from Amazon:
If Rain weren’t a girl, she would be respected as a Neshu combat master. Instead, her gender dooms her to a colorless future. When an army of nomads invades her kingdom, and a draft forces every household to send one man to fight, Rain takes her chance to seize the life she wants.
Knowing she’ll be killed if she’s discovered, Rain purchases powder made from dragon magic that enables her to disguise herself as a boy. Then she hurries to the war camps, where she excels in her training―and wrestles with the voice that has taken shape inside her head. The voice of a dragon she never truly believed existed.
From Amazon: STORMRISE
As war looms and Rain is enlisted into an elite, secret unit tasked with rescuing the High King, she begins to realize this dragon tincture may hold the key to her kingdom’s victory. For the dragons that once guarded her land have slumbered for centuries . . . and someone must awaken them to fight once more.
I love a strong female protagonist, but what hooked me the most? STORMRISE is inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Please check it out! You can find out more about Jillian at her website and on Facebook and Twitter.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
Julia, thank you so much for this lovely post! I so appreciate your ongoing support. <3
THIS IS THE AUTHORESS? This is very exciting! Congrats, Jillian! I’ve been a fan for so long. And thanks, Julia 🙂
It’s me! 🙂 Thank you so much!
I think I found MSFV through YOU, Amy! I love all the connections! 🙂