Writing careers are not made with one book. They just aren’t. That’s a rule. Of course, that being the rule, there are exceptions. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Stephen King’s Carrie, Nicholas Sparks and his blockbuster debut The Notebook to name of few. But that’s just it, try to think of more. I’ll wager you’d be hard-pressed doing so.

Think of Dan Brown, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, Dean Koontz, John Grisham, Jack Higgins, James Patterson, or even Ernest Hemingway and Jack Kerouac. Of these now superbly famous writers, none of them struck gold with their debuts. Some weren’t even published. Though these authors now have carved a place for themselves in the literary hall of fame, none did it easily or overnight. Why should you expect any different?

Sure, all of us would like to think we’re either working on or just completed the next New York Times best-seller. But even if you’re writing a pure work of genius the market for new writers is savage, at best. Regardless of what you’re told, books still sell. They sell huge quantities each and every day. Unfortunately, the bulk of those sales are by “brand name” authors like those listed above.

Don’t believe me?

Walk into your local Wal-Mart or Borders and you’ll see what I’m talking about. A thousand copies of Fern Michaels or James Patterson. But look for the name of an author you don’t already know. Good luck. You may find one, you may not.

But I have not said all this to discourage you. To the contrary, if, like me, you’ve chosen writing – or as it so often happens, writing chose you – then I feel you must be aware of this. Not as an obstacle, but as a goal. One to overcome.

I published my first book with Booklocker.com in November of 2006. A little book called A Ghost Story. It was a story I believed in, and one I just had to write. I sold a few copies, sent some out for review, and offered some as prizes for random subscribers to my newsletter, Campfire Tales.

A little interest began to grow. Slowly at first, but before I knew it, I had a traditional publishing contract with a wonderful small press. That was in March. Now, in late September, I have three more books contracted to the same publisher, including my first book, A Ghost Story.

At Champagne Books I have an incredible publisher and an editor committed to making my books the very best they can be. None of this, I fear, would have reached fruition if not for that first step, publishing my novel with Booklocker.com. It was a leap of faith. A blind leap. But that faith was rewarded.

Now, less than a year later, my foot is planted firmly in the door of success.

I may never be a household name and I may never grace the front page of People Magazine. But, with a minimum of four novels, I can rest assured that if I don’t, it wasn’t because I didn’t get that once in a lifetime opportunity to do just that.

My writing career has begun, in earnest, and I love every single minute of it.

Thank you Booklocker.com. I couldn’t have asked for more.

Keith Latch read his first novel, The Voice of the Night by Dean Koontz, at age twelve. Awestruck by the written word, he’s been writing ever since.

Called ‘an author who is sure to have a grand future,’ by Horrorworld, Keith is a proud husband and father who presently lives in his hometown of Corinth, Mississippi. His upcoming novels include Cemetery Things (supernatural suspense) coming March 2008 and No Small Thing (inspirational romance) available in August 2008.

Visit the author’s website at https://www.keithlatch.com or join his electronic newsletter for news, updates, and commentary on the author’s upcoming projects, future publishing announcements, and his opinions on books, music, movies, and gaming.