If you could change one thing about your journey to publication what would it be?
"I would've gotten serious about writing years ago. I feel like I have too many ideas and too little time." - Bethany Griffin, author of Masque of the Read Death.
"I would have gotten published before my mother died. She’s the reason I grew up surrounded by books. And to use one of her phrases, it would have tickled her to walk into Lemuria Books in Jackson, Miss., and buy her son’s book. It’s painful for me that she doesn’t get to enjoy this." - Barry Wolverton, author of Neversink. 
"I wouldn't change anything, though if you'd asked me a few years ago I would have said 'Everything!' My journey to publication was difficult. It involved a lot of very complimentary rejections. 'You write well, but . . .' It was hard to take, and more than once I thought about quitting. Not quitting writing, just the quest for the elusive agent and book deal. I kept going, though, and eventually all the right people said yes. Having gone through years of writing, being rejected, and writing some more, I'm a lot stronger -- and a better writer." - Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate. 
"I would be more prepared. For the scrutiny, the pressure of self-promotion, for the work I'd need to do to maintain balance between my various professional endeavors and my personal life. My second book (Envy) comes out this fall - this time, I'm prepped and ready to go! (fingers crossed)" - Elizabeth Miles, author of Fury. 
"Nothing. Though it was a long journey…it got me here! And made my book what it is." - Sarah Wilson Etienne, author of Harbinger.
"I would have worried less before publication. There are new stresses now and so I’ve realized that the writing is the one constant in the journey—the only thing you can really control. I’m beginning to understand that the more I stay connected and dedicated to the work itself, the happier I am." - Veronica Rossi, author of Under the Never Sky.
"Only that I would have tried to have my web site up sooner. Mine was still being built a week before the release date, and I didn’t know where to send people—my blog? My Facebook fan page? Twitter? A finished web site would have been really helpful. Besides that, though, every moment of my publication journey was an absolute dream!" - Marissa Meyer, author of Cinder.
"You know what? Not a thing. I have the greatest editor in the world and the most talented sales and marketing team around. I literally feel lucky every single day to have Penguin Young Readers behind me." - Jess Rothenberg, author of The Catastrophic History of You and Me.
"It would be faster. I set aside my aspirations for write fiction for family and career, and while I don't regret that, I do regret hat I didn’t find a way to chase my dream at the same time." - David Macinnis Gill, author of Invisible Sun.
"I would’ve worried less in the final stages. I was stressed the whole time between the sale of my first manuscript and the book’s production. It was wasted angst." - Beth Fantaskey, author of Jessica Rules the Dark Side.
"I would have not signed with my first agent—the very first agent that offered. I would have interviewed her more carefully. It ended up a disaster. My current agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette, is amazing, so it had a happy-ever-after ending." - Mary Lindsey, author of Shattered Souls.
"I’d remind myself to chill out a little. Writers are sensitive to begin with and every part of the process brings some new fear: First, will anyone want to publish my book? Then, will anyone want to read it? Will readers like it? Will they want to read the sequel? It’s easy to drive yourself crazy. Worth noting: Illuminate is about a girl learning to have confidence. Clearly, I’m still not a total expert!" - Aimee Agresti, author of Illuminate.
"I would make it shorter." - Jennifer Echols, author of The One That I Want.
"I would have started sooner! It took be awhile to realize that in order to get published you have to sit down and write a whole book." - Suzanne Lazear, author of Innocent Darkness.
Come back Tuesday when authors will be sharing secrets about their books!
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