Author places a little part of self in first published work

Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo Local author Kathryn Salsbury is enjoying the recent success of her debut novel, "The Plan," an erotic romantic comedy published in February.

The decision to keep writing a part of her life has paid off for local author Kathryn Salsbury.

Salsbury, who writes under the pen name Qwen Salsbury, is currently enjoying the success of her debut novel, "The Plan," an erotic fiction novel published in February. The book originally started as online fan fiction stories written in "real time" as daily journal entries from the point of view of the book's lead female character.

Salsbury said her initial thought was that "some friends would read it at first," not knowing the amount of attention the story would soon receive.

"By 5 a.m. on day three, I had so many alerts (on her cell phone) that night it killed my battery," she said. "It's funny escapism; it's not meant to change the world. People need comedy. I think it's important."

Salsbury said her love of writing started at a young age, when she and a friend would write "all the time" and share their creative writing stories. She spent some time working in the corporate world, then eventually went back to school and in 2009, she earned a degree in creative writing from Pittsburg State University, the alma mater of Pulitzer Prize winning poet, James Tate.

"It's a great program," she said.

Salsbury attended and graduated from the Washburn University School of Law, where she said she picked up writing again "as a way to not lose who I was." While attending law school, Salsbury single parented four boys while also writing her novel.

"I just like challenges," she said.

She later began posting stories online, an episodic series that would eventually become "The Plan." Upon their release, the original online stories garnered four million hits, Salsbury said.

The story focuses on the lead character, Emma Baker and her mission to draw the attention of her stern male boss, Alaric Canon. Salsbury said she has included parts of herself in the book, and feels she has created a "much spunkier, more assertive" heroine as opposed to heroines in similar fiction which she described as "passive."

"There are parts of me in there (the story)," she said. "I wish I was her."

"The Plan" reached No. 7 in the erotica category on its first day on amazon.com, even boosting ahead of the popular "50 Shades of Grey" series in that same category.

"It went from nobody to a million people reading," Salsbury said.

Salsbury described "The Plan' as a "romantic comedy with sex."

"I've heard it described as Bridget Jones with sex, or The Devil Wears Prada with a male boss instead of a female boss," she said.

Without giving away too much of the plot, Salsbury mentioned an office betting pool that Emma and her coworkers participate in concerning their boss, Canon.

"She (Emma) studies her boss a lot," she said. "He's cute but not a nice person."

Salsbury said she wants to emphasize to prospective writers the importance of getting a formal education and going through a school writing program, both of which have benefited her in her writing career.

"It's not for everybody, but it teaches the rules," she said.

Salsbury said she learned good advice through the writing program she went through.

"You are shown examples and can break down what works and what doesn't," she said. "Plus you learn to show, don't tell. If a character is embarrassed, show how embarrassed they are ... try to make it your own."

Salsbury said online writing communities and writers' groups can also be beneficial for aspiring writers.

"Put yourself in a community, probably online," she said. "Find a place for your fiction. Feedback online is equally as important."

Also important is dedicating time each day to writing and being around people who serve as encouragement and motivation. She said both good and bad feedback are helpful.

"Find friends that encourage you to actually produce something," she said.

"The Plan," which has received positive reviews, is available in paperback and Kindle versions and can only be ordered online through Amazon or Barnes and Noble, Salsbury said.

Salsbury is signed with Omnific Publishing and said she recently signed a contract for two sequels to "The Plan."

Last week, the book stood at No. 9 in the erotica category on amazon.com.

More information on Salsbury can be found at www.qwensalsbury.com.