Helen Pollard Talks About Life After Getting The Contract

Naivety Personified

Me, naive? When I signed my first contract a few months ago, I didn’t think I was. Ever since I’d started writing again maybe five years ago, I’d taken the whole thing extremely seriously and spent as much time researching as writing … how to hone my craft, the world of agents and publishers, digital versus print … the list goes on.

So I guess it would be true to say I probably did think the hard part was over – not writing my book, necessarily, but finding the perfect home for it, a publisher who was willing to have faith in it and give it a chance.

I had no idea what lay ahead.

I’d expected the edits, and coped with them without too much trauma (truth be told, I love editing!)

And in the back of my mind, I knew I would have to get to grips with Facebook. And create a website. And begin a blog. The reality of doing these things was time-consuming, tantrum-inducing and sometimes technically scary. With a day job and a family to contend with, I barely had time for anything else, but I finally got things in hand …

Until my book’s release, and with it, a whole new world of buy links and author pages and the like (who knew I’d ever manage to set up an author page on Amazon Japan?!)

Could I rest there? Absolutely not. I had no idea how much marketing would be involved! I’ve spent a lot of time finding out and learning from others, but as for putting it all into practice, I’m only just getting going.

It’s been a steep learning curve, and on days when I’m tired, it can seem like a slog. But there is real excitement to be had in knowing I’m taking small steps in getting my name and my book ‘out there’ – and also satisfaction and renewed confidence as each challenge is faced, tackled, and hopefully overcome.

Best of all, now when I’m daunted by something new, I only have to look back at what I’ve already achieved and remind myself I’m perfectly capable of rising to the challenge.

That’s a great feeling!

Warm Hearts in Winter by Helen Pollard

Blurb:

Can two hearts thaw on the midwinter moors?

Forced by circumstance into the world of temping, when Abby Davis accepts an assignment in the wilds of Yorkshire as personal assistant to a widowed novelist, she assumes he is an ageing recluse.

Thirty-something Jack Blane is anything but. Still struggling to get his life and writing career back on track three years after his wife’s death, Jack isn’t ready for a breath of fresh air like Abby.

Snowed in at his winter retreat on the moors, as the weeks go by and their working relationship becomes friendship and maybe more, Abby must rethink her policy of never getting involved with someone at work … and Jack must decide whether he is willing to risk the pain of love a second time.

Buy Links:

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O2BOMWU

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O2BOMWU

Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/B-N-WarmHeartsInWinter

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/warm-hearts-in-winter

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/481257

About the Author:

Helen Pollard writes contemporary romance with old-fashioned heart. She firmly believes there will always be a place for romantic fiction, no matter how fast-paced and cynical the world becomes. Readers still want that feel-good factor - to escape from their own world for a while and see how a budding romance can blossom and overcome adversity to develop into love ... and we all need a little love, right?

A Yorkshire lass, Helen is married, with two teenagers. They share space with a Jekyll and Hyde cat that alternates between being obsessively affectionate and viciously psychotic. Antiseptic cream is always close at hand.

When Helen’s not working or writing, it goes without saying that she loves to read. She also enjoys a good coffee in a quiet bookshop, and appreciates the company of family and close friends.

Find Helen at:

Facebook:  http://tinyurl.com/FacebookHelenPollardWrites     

Website & Blog:  www.helenpollardwrites.wordpress.com