Believing in Your Worth Despite Being Rejected Over 250 Times
The Shit No One Tells You About WritingSummary
Vanessa Lilly, an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and author of the best-selling novel "Blood Sisters," discusses her latest book, "The Bone Thief," which explores themes of colonialism and the impact of historical injustices on Indigenous communities. The narrative follows archaeologist Sid Walker as she investigates the disappearance of a Native teenager and the theft of skeletal remains, uncovering a pattern of disappearances linked to an elite historical society.
Lilly shares her journey to publication, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in the face of rejection, having faced over 250 rejections before securing her first book deal. She highlights the necessity of maintaining a positive mindset and the significance of finding the right publishing partners, rather than settling for the first opportunity that arises. This experience informs her writing process, where she aims to balance storytelling with social commentary, creating characters that resonate with readers while addressing complex issues.
The conversation also delves into the challenges of writing a sequel, particularly in ensuring that new readers can engage with the story without needing extensive background knowledge from the previous book. Lilly reflects on the evolution of her character Sid, who grapples with her past traumas while navigating her current challenges, illustrating the ongoing effects of violence and loss. Ultimately, Lilly's work serves as a medium for exploring deeper societal issues while providing an engaging narrative for her audience.
Show Notes
This week on the podcast Bianca sits down with Cherokee Nation member, USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Lillie to discuss her gripping new thriller, The Bone Thief. Vanessa shares her long road to publication, navigating rejection and the business of publishing, and why writers need to trust their instincts. She also explains how writers can create a propulsive opening, write complex characters, and use suspense to explore Indigenous history, the trauma of colonialism, and the theft of Indigenous remains. Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency. Find us on our socials: Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writing https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/ https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com Sign up for CeCe's course: https://learn-with-cece.thinkific.com/products/courses/cecescoachingcorner
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