From Agony to Ecstasy by Taylor Kincaid

Hi, I’d like to introduce myself.  Most people know me as Lanette Kissel.  But, when I write, I usually go by the pen name of Taylor Kincaid.  I chose my pen name to honor my heritage.  Taylor is my father’s family name, and Kincaid is my mothers.

I started writing about six years ago.  I like to attempt writing novels, and really enjoy writing short stories.  I write in a variety of genre, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Historical, Suspense, and even Inspirational.  Most of my Inspirational is in the form of poetry and non-fiction essays.  With my Inspirational writing, I hope to honor the Father in heaven.  If I have a gift, it’s because He gave it to me.

My road to publication has been a rough and rocky one.  I love the writing part of being an author, and even enjoy many aspects of the submissions process.  But, that process and everything it involves can be so frustrating. 

I started out submitting novel queries to traditional book publishing houses.  I would receive either rejection notices, or no response at all.  I would submit my short stories to literary magazines, and after waiting for months for my response, I would receive a rejection.  It’s so hard to break into that market.  I remember one literary sent me a letter asking if I had anything else I could send them.  The editor said my story had almost made it.  Do you know how much I hate that word almost?

After about two years, I was completely disenchanted with the process.  I decided to give up on all of it.  I stopped writing, and boycotted the mailbox and Microsoft Word.  Then about three months later, I received an envelope in the mail containing a contract from a magazine, for a story I had given up on ever hearing from.  I was thrilled.  That was the encouragement I needed to start writing again.

I was able to place my Inspirational poetry with various small press poetry pubs.  I found it easier to place than my short stories.  I did have successes with a couple of print magazines, and a couple of ezine publishers.  I was thrilled when my story, The Legend of the Ghost in the Garden, was selected for publication in an issue of Sage of Consciousness ezine.  With that story, I earned the title of featured short story writer for that issue.

A couple of years ago, a fellow author told me about the new e-book publishers.  She said she was concentrating her energies in that direction, because that was the wave of the future for the publishing industry.  I took her advice and began to submit some of my stories to the e-book publishers.  Finally, some doors began to open for me.  I began to see light at the end of the tunnel.  My first acceptance came from Forbidden Publications.  My first e-book is available on their website.

I have also just recently contracted with them for a series I’m excited about.  The genre is Paranormal/Historical Romance.  I don’t know when the first book is coming out, but I hope it will be soon.

Here is a list of my available, and coming soon e-books.

Dreams of Destiny, by Taylor Kincaid, Mainstream Romance, www.forbiddenpublications.com

Whiskey Shots Volume 12, by Lanette Kissel,  a collection of two Inspirational short stories, www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Coming soon:

The Attic Ball, by Taylor Kincaid, Paranormal Romance, www.redrosepublishing.com

Confessions of a Confederate series, Part One, The Calhoun Saga, by Taylor Kincaid, Paranormal/Historical Romance, www.forbiddenpublications.com

You can visit my website:

www.freewebs.com/kisskinauthornews