The Long Journey of a Novel

On a cold December night in 1983, Michael J. Sullivan found himself homeless, kicked out by his father a little over a year after his mother had died from cancer. While riding the E train from the Kew Gardens’ Union Turnpike station in Queens to Chambers Street in Manhattan, Sullivan began writing some of the childhood and adult flashbacks now featured in his debut novel, NECESSARY HEARTBREAK (Gallery Books; March 30, 2010; $15.00). We'll talk with Sullivan about his more than 25-year journey to get this novel published. From initial rejection to self publishing to a reworking of the novel and its ultimate purchase by Gallery Books, Sullivan will detail the trials and tribulations of being an author. We'll explore tactics Sullivan has used to build interest in his book, what it takes to find an agent, and the tough road that book publishing is for any author. Those wishing to learn more about Necessary Heartbreak, the tale of a father and daughter that find themselves back in time in Jerusalem during the tumultuous last week of Jesus Christ’s life, can read excerpts at www.whentimeforgets.com.