Welcome Mat Wednesday: Krista Phillips

Welcome Mat Wednesday is back! And today we’re throwing out the welcome mat for awesome debut author Krista Phillips.

Krista’s first book, Sandwich with a Side of Romance, came out last month from Abingdon Press. I had the fun of meeting Krista at the ACFW Conference. And I’m tickled pink (fine, pale white as usual) to have her here today!

Now, about the intro video…yes, there’s a kid who screams in the background a little ways in. No, there were no children being tortured as I filmed this. I simply had my patio doors open and the neighbor kids were outside playing. That’s all…just to quell any concerns. 🙂 Enjoy Krista’s post!

The Other Side of The Rainbow

Picture this:


Windy Kansas.


A field full of writers.


A colorless sky.


Everyone is looking off in the distance at a faint rainbow.


They’re all singing (most with very off-key opera voices… oh wait, maybe that’s just me) this song,

“Somewhere…. over the publishing rainbow…. way up high…. there’s a land that I heard of once in a writer’s conference….


Somewhere… over the publishing rainbow…. skys are raining advance checks….and the publishing dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true….”


As a recent unpublished author, I know all about looking at that rainbow… seeing others cross over to the illustrious other side and thinking, “Wow… their dreams are coming true! I want that to be ME!”


I scoffed at those who were published and said, “Really? It’s not all glamour.”


I mean… REALLY. You’re PUBLISHED. What more could you ask for? Greedy little over-the-rainbow munchkins…


Well, friends, I’ve crossed over to that over side of the beautiful rainbow.


And I won’t lie.


It’s AWESOME.


But it isn’t all lollipops and sunshine and Oz. (although… rest assured so I don’t completely burst your bubble,  there ARE some lollipops and sunshine and Oz… Like seeing your book in the bookstore for the first time in that spot that you’ve gone to look at every time you’ve entered that bookstore since you were like 4 years old and first dreamed of being a writer….VERY COOL!)


No, on the other side of the rainbow, you now have to deal with not-so-pleasant reviews, gulp-worthy sales expectations, reality of the net amount of those raining advance checks compared with the 1,000’s of hours you’ve spent on this writing thing, fear of being a “one-hit-wonder”, and the pressure to perform (i.e. DEADLINES.)

We’ll call these the wicked witches.


Oh, but no worries. You have the GOOD witches of the North and South… agents and kind editors who want to see you succeed. (Not 100% sure how my agent and editor are going to love being called witches… so I’ll just leave this point be.)


My advice to those still on the Kansas side of the rainbow: ENJOY THE DREAM. Don’t trudge through Kansas all gloomy and depressing. ENJOY dreaming about the other side of the rainbow. ENJOY trying to find ways to get over there. ENJOY writing. Frolicking on one side of the rainbow is like exercise when you get to the other side. You’re muscles will be all buff for when you make the leap and have to walk down that yellow brick road….


My advice to those getting ready to take that over-the-rainbow leap: HOLD ON FOR THE RIDE.


My advice to those already on this side, fighting those wicked witches: GRAB A BUCKET OF WATER. (not exactly sure how that helps in publishing… but it helped Dorothy, so might as well give it a try!)


Obviously I’m still figuring out how to function over the rainbow…


What side of the rainbow are YOU on? How’s the weather there???

Krista Phillips writes inspirational romantic comedy. She believes a sprinkle of laughter (and a wee bit of chocolate) makes everything a little better! She blogs regularly about life as a wife, mother, follower of Jesus, and mother of a child with a rare congenital heart defect at www.kristaphillips.com. Her debut novel, “Sandwich, With a Side of Romance,” released in September, 2012 from Abingdon Press. 

Connect with Krista here:

Blog/Website – www.kristaphillips.com

More about Sandwich with a Side of Romance

She moved to Sandwich, Illinois, in search of a new life, but ended up in a giant pickle.

Sandwich represents hope for twenty-year-old Maddie Buckner and Kyle, the eleven-year-old brother Maddie wants to spring out of foster care. Then she loses her new job after less than a day. It’s all Reuben-the-Jerk’s fault, and she’s determined to make him right the wrong.

He does so, reluctantly, by giving her a job at his restaurant, The Sandwich Emporium. Then crazy things start happening at the restaurant, and Kyle’s foster parents apply to adopt him. To stop it all, Maddie must learn the art of humbling herself and accepting the help God has arranged, risking her heart to Reuben in the process.

And she’d rather eat a million corned-beef on rye sandwiches than do that.


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    Comments 32

    1. I loved your advice, Krista! I’m somewhere between enjoying and holding on. And I feel blessed every day!

      Tagg, you know you’re torturing kids out there by tying cookies in the trees just high enough that they can’t reach them! lol

      Reply

    3. Great advice – and I will never look at Wizard of Oz quite the same again;)

      I’m still on the other side, and I gotta say right now I am enjoying it…but I think that’s a day-to-day thing. Oh, and your book is on my TBR pile already! I’m digging my way to it and cannot wait to read it.

      Melissa – the kid added ambiance to your video;)

      Reply

      2. Thanks, Susan!! Gotta love some Dorothy and Toto!!

        And oh my goodness, wasn’t he so incredibly cute??? Annabelle has glasses to, so I have a sweet spot in my heart for cuties with glasses!!!

        Reply

    4. Yay for intro videos by Mel again!! Even if there are screaming kids…hehe.

      Krista, I love your advice and how you applied it to The Wizard of Oz. Quite clever. I’m still strolling through Kansas, just happy to be there. Yes, I’m dreaming of Oz, but I’m content to be here for now. And I pray I stay that way. I’m sure after awhile it will get tougher and tougher.

      Reply

      1. It will get tougher, I won’t lie.

        BUT… just like good exercise… the harder you have to work at it, the more muscles you build! By the time you get over the rainbow… you’ll be able to bench a WHOLE lot of WAIT! 🙂

        SO Good meeting you at ACFW!!

        Reply

    6. MTagg,

      Love the yelling kids. I agree — you know your teasing them with chocolate chip cookies! Don’t forget the milk.

      Thanks Krista for the advice. I’m working on enjoying the journey on this side of the rainbow.

      Blessings!

      Reply

    7. What fun to see you in today’s vlog, Melissa. Now that I’ve met you in person and know you’re lots taller than I am, I look up to you even more. No, seriously. You are a class act. I’m so impressed by your humility, your poise, and your awesome personality.

      I got to meet Krista in person for the first time at the conference, too, and that was a real treat. Love you guys.

      Loved your post, Krista. As one who passed through the rainbow just a couple months before you did, I totally get what you’re saying about the experience. It is awesome! However, what makes it all that much sweeter is that I was blessed to spend many years in Kansas enjoying the preparation and anticipation. I decided early in my journey to have fun at every step. I didn’t want to miss out on the good times in the here and now because I was so focused on the there and then.

      I’m so glad the Lord helped me see the need to trust Him, surrender my expectations, and embrace every aspect of my journey. That’s not to say I didn’t have days when I grew impatient, because I did. I still do. Life over the rainbow isn’t without it’s challenges, as you well know. I’m still a writer who struggles with doubts, discouragement, and desires to make things happen.

      The profession we’ve chosen isn’t an easy one. There will be apples flying at times–and monkeys, too. But there are good friends who come alongside and share in our ups and our downs, and that is one of the very best parts of being a writer, no matter where we are on the yellow brick road.

      (Sorry about writing a novella. As you can see, you really touched a chord with me.)

      Reply

      1. SO good meeting you at ACFW, Keli!!!

        And I am TOTALLY with you on enjoying the hear and now. Exactly my point!

        Now, I don’t always do the best of jobs. But trying is the first step, right??? 🙂

        Reply

    10. Wonderful to meet you, Krista! Loved this post. I’m still in Kansas, it’s cloudy and I’m feeling a slight breeze, but looking for that tornado warning!

      I’ve been to Sandwich. Your book sounds like a fun read! Congrats to you!

      Reply

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