Resetting the statistics

It's not often I get to talk about motor sport and writing in the same sentence, but my decision to sign with a U.S. publisher for my latest book Last Wish of Summer reminds me of another Australian who left our shores for the challenge of making his mark in the North American market. Marcos Ambrose was at the top of his game when he drew the curtain on a five year career in Australian motor sport. The two-time Australian V8 Supercar champion had 28 race wins and 18 pole positions to his name when he made the announcement that he was heading to America to pursue a career in NASCAR racing. In 2011, after 119 starts in NASCAR's top level, he recorded his first race win. To his many Australian fans, the win had been a long time coming. For his growing legions of fans in The States, it was great to see the much-liked Tasmanian get his first win. So where was the acknowledgement for his 28 race wins in Australia?

It seems that when you change markets, the statistics you have previously accumulated don't necessarily follow you across to your new chosen field. Ambrose's career statistics are still all there and make for a rather impressive personal CV, but recognition in the U.S. for his ability behind the wheel, was always going to be measured only by success on a NASCAR track. Changing categories in motor sport is akin to a statistical reset. And so it seems as I stare down the release of my first novel with my new publisher, that I too am about to start a new chapter. While in reality it is my third novel, for all intents and purposes, it feels like I am starting over.

Motor sport fans will delight that further references to race cars ends here. My point is, that I can't forget it took the effort and perseverance of promoting my first two novels for Last Wish of Summer to even eventuate. And now it seems my career as a writer begins in earnest. My next novel sees me switch to writing Christian Fiction, and better aligning the positive, thought provoking storytelling I had developed over my first two books, with the right market. Signing with a U.S. publisher positioned the book to where the Christian market is most prominent, but also called for five months of re-editing to not only Americanize the grammar, but better clarify anything in the book that an American reader might have difficulty in understanding. The result is a better end package. One that fits well with my style of writing, is easily identifiable with my projected audience and presents me professionally as a new voice, not necessarily a new author. As for my other books? They are still out there, for now. Although one book in particular does lend itself well to a rewrite in the same sense of what I undertook with Last Wish of Summer, and possibly in the very near future. You could say I have been statistically reset. Now where is that remote? I feel like watching some car racing!