Page 39 of More than Paper

Jamison glances at his watch and grabs my hand. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”

“For what?”

“The event.”

He guides me through the store and into another room where there are tables and chairs similar to the store, and pads of paper and pens are scattered.

“Jamison. You decide to start writing?” A woman with pink-rimmed glasses and black hair asks him.

“Nope. Still no talent. But I did bring someone who does. Kim, meet Quinn. Quinn, meet Kim. She’s published a few series and has several pen names.”

Kim stands up and shakes my hand. “Quinn, nice to meet you. How long have you been writing?”

My initial reaction is to run and hide. I’m going to kill Jamison.

“I haven’t published anything,” I quickly say, my face heating up.

“You’re in the right place, then.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Kim writes full-time and also leads a discussion on how to self-publish, market, and find resources based on your genre. She also moderates a big community of writers on social media. She’s a huge advocate in the indie community,” Jamison tells me.

Wow. How does she do all that?

“Quinn, how long have you been writing?” she asks.

I take a deep breath. “Since I was twelve.”

She puts her arm around my back, leading me over to a chair. “Have a seat. Tell me about your writing.”

“There isn’t a lot to tell.”

“She wrote a series of thrillers, a few romantic comedies, and dabbled in urban fantasy,” Jamison says with excitement.

Jeez. Did he record our conversation?

“You’re a multifaceted writer. That’s great!” Kim pats my hand.

“She is!” Jamison beams.

I furrow my brow.This is super embarrassing.

“What do you do for a living?” Kim ask.

“I work for a large publisher in Chicago. I edit romance novels.”

“Ah. I see. Do you like it?”

“Well enough.”

“You enjoy everything you read?”

“Nope. Some of it doesn’t seem that great, but the authors have big followings, so anything they write, the publisher will look at and normally contract.”

“What is stopping you from publishing?” Kim asks me.

Heat flushes my cheeks. “I got tired of getting rejection letters and realized I didn’t have the talent.”

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