Thanks for joining us on the Riptide Publishing First Anniversary Blog Hop Bash! All month long, we’re bringing you guest posts and interviews from your favorite authors, artists, and Riptide staff. As a thank you for helping us celebrate, we’re also giving away $10 in Riptide store credit to one lucky commenter at every stop! Simply leave a comment below by 11:59pm on Sunday, October 28th to enter. Be sure to check out our complete tour schedule to find out where else you can enter to win—one Grand Prize winner drawn from commenters at all the stops will also win a Kindle that we’ll load with every book we publish in 2013!
Plus, check out our anniversary sale—All October long, backlist titles are 15%-50% off!
Today we have a special guest post from Cat Grant, author of Once A Marine and many others with Riptide Publishing.
A Year with Riptide and the Evolution of Once A Marine
By Cat Grant
When Stephanie, Riptide’s lovely, ever-efficient marketing whiz asked me to participate in this anniversary extravaganza, I knew the book I wanted to talk about was my first Riptide release, Once a Marine. This story was a watershed for me in terms of subject matter as well as my development as a writer.
The book evolved over a long period of time. I had the kernel of an idea for a Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell story germinating in the back of my mind for a couple of years, but I knew I’d have to wait until the policy was officially repealed before I could give it a happy ending. Rachel Maddow’s series of interviews with gay servicemen and women ousted (or facing discharge) under the policy gave me plenty of research material, but it was her conversation with Army captain Jonathan Hopkins that really got me. When he told her he’d put his personal life on hold for ten years because it wouldn’t be fair to ask a potential partner to go back in the closet for his sake, I knew I had the model for my fictional Marine, Cole Hammond.
Hard to believe it was just over a year ago that I drafted this book, then started looking around for a publisher. Got a contract offer from one publisher that I was really excited about, until they asked for revisions I had a problem with, including changing my hero Marc’s first person POV into third person. There were a lot of things I would’ve willingly changed about this manuscript, but that was not one of them. I wrote it that way deliberately, hoping that readers would get to know Cole gradually, the way Marc does, and fall in love with him the same way.
At this point, I was feeling rather bummed, and wondering if I’d taken a completely wrong turn with this manuscript, until my intrepid beta-reader Aleks Voinov mentioned this new m/m publishing company he and Rachel Haimowitz were trying to get off the ground. They were looking for submissions, and would I be interested?
I’d never been invited to submit to a brand-new publisher before, so naturally I was flattered, and more than a bit wary. Everybody hears stories about new e-publishers charging out of the gate, only to run out of gas and fold a few months later. But something told me Aleks and Rachel wouldn’t fail. They had a vision, the energy and the smarts to make it, and most importantly, a kick-ass business plan. Didn’t take long for them to convince me to come aboard.
Rachel warned that they’d work me “like a Russian circus pony” in edits – and man, did they! I’d never received such rigorously thorough edits before, and honestly, there were a few times when my confidence flagged. I cried and flailed and questioned my ability to rise to the level expected of me, then just plowed through and did it. Ended up cutting about 10K from my original word count, adding another 10K, then cutting it back by another 3K. The final draft clocked in at a tight, lean 57K, and by the time I was done, I’d crammed two years’ worth of creative growth into about six weeks. Exhausting, but incredibly rewarding!
I was also impressed by Riptide’s attention to detail at every stage of the book’s production. I’d never had a Reese Dante cover before, so they made sure I got one. The layout and proofing were second to none. Best of all, they set up a month-long launch party/blog tour, which gave Once a Marine (and all the other books in Riptide’s early lineup) a fantastic boost. Working with a marketing department was another first for me, and it proved an invaluable help, since I absolutely loathe doing promo.
Still, no one was more amazed than I when Once a Marine quickly became my most successful book. I still pinch myself when I see the number of copies sold on my royalty statement each month.
Going with Riptide meant taking a big chance, but luckily, it’s worked out well. It hasn’t always been the smoothest sailing, but what partnership doesn’t have its rocky patches? Thanks to Rachel and Aleks’ vision and expertise, I have no doubt Riptide will be around for a long time to come.
Blurb
Discharged under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, former Marine major Cole Hammond is struggling to find a new identity. But PTSD casts a pall on everything, and his hard-nosed, homophobic father can’t even bear to look him in the eye. To top it all off, he’s pretty sure he’s flunking out of law school.
Marc Sullivan is a kind, sensitive romance author-slash-waiter with a thing for men in uniform. Cole’s not wearing his anymore, but there’s no mistaking the warrior Marc meets in the diner one rainy afternoon. Cole’s sexy smile and Carolina drawl prove irresistible, but Marc’s played this game before, and he always loses. Once a Marine, always a Marine, and if there’s one thing Marc knows about such men, it’s that they all leave him in the end. It doesn’t help that Cole’s practically closeted in public, or that he refuses to seek treatment for his PTSD.
But like any good Marine, Cole’s willing to fight for what matters. And like the characters in Marc’s stories, he’s certain that if only they try hard enough, together they can find their own happily ever after.
You can find Cat here:
- Website: http://www.catgrant.com
- Blog: http://catgrant.blogspot.com/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cat.grant
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CatGrant2009
- Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1912055.Cat_Grant
I really enjoyed Once A Marine – glad you stuck with what you wanted – it’s a great story and the first of yours that I’d read. I then went looking for more of your work 🙂
pointycat(at)hotmail.co.uk
Aw, thanks! I’m really proud of OAM – and of everything I’ve published through Riptide. They take such incredible care with every step of the publishing process. 🙂
I enjoyed Once A Marine as well and look forward to reading more of Cat’s work.
diannakayATgmailDOTcom
Thanks for dropping by, Dianna. Good luck with the giveaway. 🙂
What kind of person would be willing to put their personal life on hold in order to serve in the military? I would think only an exceptional person would do such a thing. Gay people in the military should get a medal for having major cojones (regardless of whether they are male or female.) I would love to read this book, thanks!
brendurbanist AT gmail DOT com
The more research I did into our valiant servicemen & women who’ve served under the onerous shadow of DADT, the more impressed – and humbled – I became. I never would’ve had the courage to make the choice they made, all in the name of serving their country. And now, thank God, they no longer have to.
The editing process sounds grueling but Riptide does a great job making good books great!
They do indeed! 🙂
Once a Marine was the first book I read from Riptide and I really enjoyed it. Actually, all of your books from Riptide have been great. Looking forward to many more. I have been a big fan of your writing for years. 🙂
Aw, thank you, Lisa. *hugs* Here’s hoping you enjoy Fearless, which is due out in December.
Great to learn more about your process, and Riptide’s operations, too!
Glad you found it interesting. Good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Once a Marine was my first foray into Riptide’s books and both the quality of the writing and the level of care in editing/marketing made such a positive impression that I keep coming back for more.
melora.derryth(at)gmail(dot)com
You really can’t go wrong with Riptide. All their books are winners. 🙂
Loved ‘Once a Marine’!
Thank you! *blushes*
Thank you for sharing your experience with us; it was quite interesting. I look forward in reading more of your works.
Thanks,
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Thanks for dropping by, Tracey. 🙂
Gotta love those Marines! Can’t wait to read this one, adding it to my wishlist right now.
I really enjoyed Once a Marine and had never read something by you before. I really liked hearing about how it all went down, even though it sounded brutal! Thanks for the post!
OceanAkers @ aol.com
Thanks for sharing. The book sounds good.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
What an amazing start-up story for Riptide, and a great start to what sounds like a wonderful relationship and a wonderful book. Once a Marine is going on my TBR!
I enjoy wour work…Please count me in.
BTW – That is a very nice tattoo on your goodreads picture.
Thanks,
chellebee66(at)gmail(dot)com
Congrats on such a great first year for RIptide and all you talented authors. I can’t even imagine the fear of signing with a new publisher but it looks like you all are only getting stronger 🙂
June
manning_J2004 at yahoo dot com
It’s really amazing to see where Riptide is now, how far they’ve grown. I mean… usually little publishers, remain little for a few years you know? It’s amazing how BIG riptide is now.
Still haven’t read Once a Marine but I own it! lol… I shall so be reading it soon. <3
Judi
arella3173_loveless@yahoo(dot)com
Once a Marine was one of the first books I read from Riptide. 🙂 Really enjoyed it!
goingtoreadnow (at) gmail (dot) com
Lovely story Cat. I still like most your ‘Icon Men’ series, but “Once a Marine” comes as close second. I agree that the promo tour was fantastic – it was then that the book caught my eyes and I found a new author (You).
0401romance(at)gmail(dot)com
I’ve enjoyed quite a few of the books from Riptide this first year, and I’m looking forward to more!
corieltauviqueen(at)yahoo.co.uk
I haven’t read Once a Marine, but it sounds good. I’ll add it to the TBR list (why does it never get shorter?). Thanks for the info on your process, it’s good to be reminded of all the work that goes into a good book.
And another post that make me want to submit at Riptide even more!
Once a marin was a great book… I loved it!
MC
contact at mchoule dot com