What Family Stories Would You Like To Write About?

Recently, I have attended book clubs to discuss my new novel, The Lioness of Leiden, which is based on stories told by my mother-in-law, Hetty Kraus (1920-1994), about her experience in the Dutch resistance during WWII. I was surprised to learn that many people have family stories that they would like to write a book about but never thought it possible.

As a first-time author whose book will be released on April 4, I have an encouraging report: it’s easier than you might think if you have a basic aptitude for writing and are willing to work tirelessly on the manuscript.

Here’s how I did it. First, I read everything Hetty had ever written about her experiences during the war—a lot of material that often lacked the kind of detail I wanted.

Second, I researched the Dutch resistance and went to Holland to see the places where Hetty’s stories took place. I called a tourist agency and asked for guides who loved to research and discuss Dutch history. From the guides and drivers I heard stories about their families that inspired ideas for my novel. I also read books about World War II as well as the few that have been written about the Dutch resistance, and I found testimonials online from people who had participated in the resistance.

Third, I read books and online sources to learn about writing fiction. If I had it to do over, I would have attended writing classes at the local junior college. Instead, I attended writer workshops led by editors, agents, and publishers, which were helpful. They are easy to find with a standard search engine.

All this time, I was writing and rewriting my manuscript and asked for feedback from friends. I received advice from an agent, which made me jettison some interesting family history, which I am saving for a prequel.

Fourth, I found an editor by using the National Association of Independent Editors website. https://naiwe.com/ People offering their services as editors post their CVs at this respected site. Go to the home page and click on “Find a Professional” to begin narrowing the list of resumes. After reading over one hundred CVs, I narrowed my list to about fifteen and sent inquiry emails. Some were swamped, but others told me they were available. From these, I scheduled a few zoom calls and eventually selected an incredible editor, Julie Gray, who is a Los Angeles ex pat living in Tel Aviv. https://www.juliegrayediting.com/ By the time I had completed three drafts with Julie, I was competent to write a story that people want to read, and I did.

There are many ways to have a debut novel published. I elected to connect with a hybrid publisher, Greenleaf Book Group, https://greenleafbookgroup.com/ , one of the pathfinders in this genre. Greenleaf only accepts about 10% of the manuscripts it receives, so I was encouraged when it selected mine. Greenleaf is not cheap, but they are a great option for anyone (like me) who wants useful guidance every step of the way. Greenleaf offered four suggested titles and cover art. They provided editors to fine tune my novel into the product that readers expect, and they helped a lot with initial marketing. There are others who do similar work, and you should look at all the options. But I have been happy with Greenleaf.

My novel will be released on April 4, 2023. https://thelionessofleiden.com/ I am so excited!

Bob Loewen