I wrote Surprised by Angel in the summer of 2007.  I was lucky enough (or should I say unlucky) to have foot surgery in August.  It was an arthritic condition that I had been putting off fixing for 5 years.  Anyway, I was on crutches for 3 weeks and was excused from work.  It had been 15 years since I had this much time off.  I checked out a book from the library entitled; “How to Write your First Novel.”  It was written by a literary agent with 30 years in the business.  He gave a step by step approach on how to write a book.  I found it very useful. 

Since writing, reading and pro-life ministry are passions of mine, I wondered how to combine these things.  The Author repeatedly said to write about “The things you  know.”  I am a doctor who happens to be a Christian and active in Pro-life ministry; why don’t I write a story about a doctor caught up in the abortion issue?

The first 50 pages were difficult for me to write, but then suddenly the words started to fly off my pen.  It was amazing to see the pages flow.  It was a spiritual experience.

When I finished my draft I sent approximately 50 query emails and 50 query letters with sample chapters to literary agents and publishers.  I was flatly rejected.  I know the chances of a new author breaking into the fiction world are about 1 in 5000 so it was a long shot.  Writing about abortion is also a taboo in the publishing world.  But it was a good experience to try to get published. 

As a result, I self-published at Word Clay and I am happy with the result.  I am published!  If the book becomes popular, it will be on account of God and His Providence.  I give Him all the Glory and Praise.  If one heart is changed toward belief in Jesus or respect for the unborn, I will feel the whole project was a success.