When the rules don’t work for you ~ guest blogger Angelle Trieste
Many agent and editor blogs talk about how you should never quit your day job to write full-time until you have enough cash to last you six months or so. People need regular a paycheck to pay their bills, and besides, your day job provides you with health insurance and so on.
I quit way way before that.
After I received my business degree, I worked as a consultant for four years. Decided that it wasn’t for me. The work was challenging and the pay was nice enough, but every other aspect of the job was unrewarding. It sapped my energy and destroyed my health. There was no way I could continue to work and write anything worth publishing.
So I quit and moved to Japan. I didn’t have a job lined up. My visa allowed me to stay in Japan for three months as a tourist. Fortunately I didn’t have any credit card debt or car payments or college loans, but I had a mortgage in America. My parents thought I was mad. My friends were stunned.
The only people who saw it coming were me, my best friend and my boyfriend. After two months of doing absolutely nothing (to detox), I started writing. I’d completed a four hundred page novel before, so I wasn’t worried about finishing a project. I was more interested in seeing if I could develop an idea into a full-blown story, then write it out.
My first romance novel was okay, but not special enough. Basically I hadn’t learned how to distinguish a good idea from a bad one yet. Besides so many well-meaning people kept telling me to follow “the rules”, but soon I realized that they were destroying whatever excitement I felt about my ideas. The situation had to change since I hadn’t quit my corporate job to be a starving artist. (Alas, I really enjoy eating…!)
So for my second novel, I decided to write whatever I wanted. Can’t write about musicians? Great. My hero was going to be a cellist. Can’t write about writers? Even better. My heroine was going to be an unsuccessful writer. Can’t set a novel in places that don’t speak English? Excellent. A Caribbean island where most people speak Spanish. Can’t have mean dogs? Fantastic. The hero can have a couple of Dobermans who are suspicious of the heroine. I think the only rule that I followed was making the hero alpha.
I had a blast writing the story. And when Samhain offered to publish it, I let out a loud w00t!
I hope you enjoy reading Devil Falls as much as I did writing it. It’s coming out on October 28th.
Blurb
Damien Kirk was once a world-renowned cellist, celebrated across five continents for his musical gift. Now he lives in self-imposed isolation on a small Caribbean island.
Biography writer Victoria Benedict is looking for a story and she is not the type to take no for an answer. Her appearance on his doorstep shatters his reclusive existence.
Determined to be rid of her, Damien demands a quid pro quo: a kiss for each answer to her interview questions. Her response is as arousing as it is unexpected. As Damien and Victoria escalate their sensual game of cat and mouse, Victoria discovers the passionate soul underneath Damien’s cold exterior…and a shocking story of secrets and betrayal.
Warning: This title contains the following: sex, scorching kisses, killer breakfasts, a hot tropical island and a happily ever after.
If you want to learn more about the story, feel free to stop by my website for excerpts and behind-the-scene extras and contests.
Also don’t forget to comment on this post by October 27 for your chance to win a free copy of Devil Falls. I’ll drop by periodically to answer any questions as well. 
XOXO,
Angelle
www.angelletrieste.com
October 24th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I wanna win! I wanna win! And I’m so glad you broke the rules! This book sounds awesome! Mean Dobermans? Awesome! Can’t wait to read it!
October 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I love that you went to Japan. That’s just too cool. And sometimes you do have to break the rules. But I kind of agree with not quitting your day job, because it’s hard to survive on the writing alone. And if you need health insurance? Sigh. It ain’t easy!
October 24th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Not quitting my day job yet. It gives me something to fantasize about.
I didn’t know there was a rule against muscians or writers. Guess those “rules” fly out the window when someone goes out and does it. :)
The book sounds fabulous! Congrats.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
October 24th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
This book is on my wish list to get. I wish I was brave enough to break the rules like you did.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I plan to marry soon so I can quit the day job. We all have to have goals.
The book sounds great.
October 24th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Chi, I know musicians and writers can be a harder sell, but I’ve seen them done. Feisty sold her book to Grand Central with a musician hero!
October 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Angelle…you’re a woman after my own heart!! I did something similar when I moved to Florida back in 2002. I didn’t have any friends or family there and after visiting Tampa for 1 week, I knew that I wanted to move there so less than 6 months later, I convinced a friend to move with me and we moved to Tampa. Was there for over 3 years and loved it, alas Seattle is home where the fam is so I moved back but wouldn’t trade the time in Tampa for the world. I applaud you for making the move to Japan and for deciding to throw the rules out the door and write what you feel…this book sounds great!! Its soo going on my TBR list!
October 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
As a card carrying and fully paid up heretic I applaud your decision to pay no attention to the rules wildly.
Well done!
October 24th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Devil Falls sounds great Angelle. A few rules are made to be broken. You just have to pick then wisely.
I do have one question for you. Could you speak Japanese when you moved to Japan???
sandie
October 24th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Gina, I plucked you from the spam filter. Sorry ’bout that!
October 24th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
This book sounds great (and I love the cover art)! Adding it to my calendar for next week.
I love that you took off for Japan — probably b/c I’m the original “live in fear” girl and would never get up the nerve to go (that and I have to have the first career to feed the kidlets. I love writing but the kids eat a LOT).
Congrats on the new release!
October 24th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Hi ladies,
Oh gosh! So many of you stopped by.
Thanks!
BTW — if you want another chance to win, check out Interview with Damien Part 2 (that’s the hero). I’m giving away a copy there on Tuesday, so comment by Monday, if you can.
October 24th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
So here are my answers to some of your questions / comments :)
Re: Quitting my day job — I’ve thought long and hard about it. I knew I had to quit for my health if nothing else. I was way too stressed out, and I was constantly sick and fatigued. Also I specifically chose a country with an affordable and national medical insurance because I’ll be covered. Currently I’m on my boyfriend’s national insurance, and it’s about $400 a month, and it gives me medical and dental. But even without the insurance, the basic medical checkup, etc. is much cheaper than America, so it wasn’t as big of a deal.
Re: Could you speak Japanese when you moved to Japan??? — Sandie — Nope. I didn’t even know how to say “I don’t speak Japanese, I’m very sorry” in Japanese. LOL.
Danielle — I think certain places just capture your imagination. I’m glad you were able to convince your friend to move with you.
Linda — Oh I hear you on feeding kids, etc. That’s why I would’ve never been able to do the things I’ve done if I had been married or had children. I think I was very lucky that I made the move when I was single.
Finally — thank you so much for your kind comments, everyone.
And I’ll be back if anyone has any more questions.
October 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am
[…] Re: guest blogging — I blogged about breaking rules to promote Devil Falls w/a Angelle Trieste. Check it out here. […]
October 25th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Angelle, that had to make things very difficult for you. My daughters hubby was stationed in Okinawa for 5 years. I visited a few times and that seems to be a very difficult language to learn. Did you get to stay more than the three months? Or did you just unwind, start writing and return home?
sandie
October 26th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Sandie,
I’m still in Japan. I didn’t go home after 3 months because I found a sponsor.
Re: language — I speak some Japanese now, but I’m not that eloquent I’m afraid.
Where’s your son-in-law now?
October 27th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Bless you! I wish now, 20 years later, I hadn’t worried so much about what my parents thought *sigh* Of course now, with kids, moving to Japan or Greece (my dream country) is out of the question, but eventually they grow up!
October 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am
[…] bonus, check out my guest posts over at Naughty & Spice (for those of you who missed it) and Jennifer Shirk’s […]
October 28th, 2008 at 11:05 am
And the random winner is Gina! Gina please contact Angelle through her contact form to claim your book!
http://www.angelletrieste.com/contact/
Thanks, Angelle for coming out!