Patricia M Osborne

Please welcome Michelle Kidd, a talented author from across the pond, to Patricia’s Pen. Michelle is celebrating her brand new release, Finding Frankie, and shares her writing journey below.

From Crayons to Kindle: My Journey to Finding Frankie

Michelle Kidd

Thank you, Tricia. I’m so honored to share my writing journey and latest book, Finding Frankie, with your readers on Patricia’s Pen.

I’ve always loved books. My love affair with them began at a young age when I penned my first one with crayons and tied it with hair ribbons. There weren’t many words, mostly pictures, but I had a dream. Later, when I opened Charlotte’s Web and E.B. White transported me into the Arable’s kitchen, I was hooked. I loved stories.

As so often happens, life’s hurdles can challenge us, but I was given a unique opportunity in 2016 through Amazon’s Kindle Scout Program. This innovative experiment, launched by Amazon for reader-driven stories, featured books in a thirty-day campaign. Readers had the chance to read snippets and vote for the books they most wanted to see published. At the end of the campaign, Amazon reviewed the books for potential publishing contracts, with an acceptance rate of only 5%. My first book, Timeless Moments, was fortunate enough to be selected, and from there, my book took off. To date, my debut novel has sold over 48,000 copies and has over 4,200 ratings in the United States market.

I’d like to say that set me on an accelerated path, but the publishing road is not always paved and seldom straight. After the first book was so well received, I set out to write my second book. My agent shopped it around for about a year with great feedback before we turned our attention to my third book. This one was also met with great feedback, but we were told “Westerns” are a hard sell these days. The market isn’t right. Despite Finding Frankie being Southern fiction and set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, it had that Western feel with outlaws, redemption, and revenge. Armed with all the positive feedback from publishers, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I loved the characters and felt they had a right to be seen and heard. I plunged into the world of independent publishing for this series. It’s been quite a learning experience but also fun. I designed everything from the cover to the format and have enjoyed the process. I guess one could say I’ve been creating books my entire life.

There’s something magical about opening a book and being transported to a new and exciting place. I hope readers check out my stories and characters for themselves.

About Michelle Kidd

Michelle lives with her husband of over 30 years, two gifted sons on the autism spectrum, and two adorable fur babies. Although she was sidetracked by work, motherhood, and homeschooling, writing remained her true calling. Nowadays, she delights her family with impromptu songs and creates vivid landscapes with her words. Her deep affection for Virginia fuels her passion for crafting historical sagas that resonate with readers. She believes faith should be at the heart of every story and continues looking for unique stories to transport her readers.

Links

BUY

BUY

Twitter (X)

Facebook

Website

Amazon Author Page