• Gretl Claggett
  • LOOKING FOR THE HORIZON: Why I write, edit and publish books ... by Alexandra Saville
LOOKING FOR THE HORIZON: Why I write, edit and publish books ... by Alexandra Saville
Contributor
Written by
Gretl Claggett
March 2012
Contributor
Written by
Gretl Claggett
March 2012

Alexandra Saville is a true trailblazer. That's why I thought she'd be the perfect person to kick off this week's feature pieces ...


I grew up in a small, seaside town in Massachusetts. My father always said, “Red Skies at night are a sailor’s delight.” These words become part of the soundtrack to my childhood, and later, to my career. For me, this mantra meant that the next day would bring new challenges, adventures, and opportunity. Even though I’m not a sailor—and Manhattan is about as different from that seaside town as you can get—it was with this notion that my company, Red Skies Publishing, was born.

 

As writers, you’re all too aware of the challenges in the industry, not to mention the economy in general. While some say it’s a “dangerous” time to enter into the book business—specifically as a small, independent company—I see it as the perfect time to take advantage of the gap in service for writers.

 

Over the past two years, Red Skies has acquired a solid and loyal client base. We are proud to say that we consider all manuscripts that are submitted. All editing, promoting, and distributing is done in house. This allows me to have my head, hands, and heart in each project from inception through fruition.

 

As I’ve grown this company, I’ve grown with it. I’ve learned the ins and outs of the industry and about myself as a businesswoman. My clients have taught me so much and I look at them in constant amazement. I’ve written for newspapers and magazines and have always harbored a goal to write my own manuscript someday. Someday. My clients are the brave ones. The ones who have put pen to page, spun their work into the work,and have created something meaningful. It’s with this understanding that Red Skies is a writer’s publishing house. Red Skies prides itself on allowing authors artistic integrity—focusing on the little details in the biggest works.

 

This spring, Red Skies will launch its largest endeavor so far. Three years ago, I was working as a freelance editor and the pangs of entrepreneurial spirit were just beginning to call my name. I heard the story of El Fadel Arbab and was immediately inspired. This young man escaped the Darfur Genocide, but went back in spite of the impending doom to help his family escape and eventually gain refuge in the states. El Fadel travels the country doing speaking engagements at high schools and universities in hopes to educate young adults on the very real and current problem of genocide in our world.

 

His story is one of victims and survivors, which, in the Sudan, are one in the same. After hearing El Fadel speak for the first time, it became apparent that this was a story that I wanted to assist in being heard—and, in turn, it molded the shape of my company. At that speaking engagement, I met Lauren Kempton, an educator and author, who was in the beginning stages of penning El Fadel’s story. I knew immediately that I needed to publish this work. Kempton has written a Young Adult book about El Fadel’s life, struggle and triumph. She has eloquently woven impossibly difficult subject matter into a heartfelt, and even relatable story. This is the kind of work that I know will continue to define the path my company takes, the kind of work that will wake people up, and become someone’s favorite book one day.

 

My Grandfather Said, Climb a Tree and Look for the Light will be released this April (2012) and has already been picked up as required reading by several school systems.

 

Owning a business was an itch I was bound to scratch. Each day I find myself simultaneously excited and scared. And I think that’s a healthy balance. As a writer, I understand how much bravery and self-discipline it takes to put your heart out there and subject it to rejection on such an intimate scale. This is what makes Red Skies so special to me. I love the opportunities it presents to writers, and the ambition it allows me to explore as an editor. My advice to anyone getting into writing, or any creative field, is to listen to your gut and learn to love your growing pains. Realize that it takes a small amount of oblivion to allow bravery, and that things don’t happen overnight. So keep putting pen to paper, have faith, work hard, and paint your sky red.

___

 

Alexandra Saville

www.redskiespublishing.com

 

Before founding Red Skies Publishing, Alexandra Saville’s main two passions were travel and writing. While traveling Europe during the 2008 elections, Saville earned her first journalism position. When back in her native Massachusetts, she wrote for the Gloucester Daily Times and North Shore Magazine. In the fall of 2010, Saville moved her new company to New York City. She now resides in Manhattan and continues to write as much as possible.

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Comments
  • B. Lynn Goodwin

    Excellent. I love what you're doing, and I'm grateful you shared it here.

    www.writeradvice.com

    Author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers

  • Grace Peterson

    Wow. What a powerful post. I love these kinds of pep talks. It's SO easy to get discouraged, listening to the inner-critic giving me all kinds of grief or looking at the stack of rejections I've already accumulated and thinking that publication isn't going to happen. It takes perseverance and tenacity to keep at it which is why I love posts like yours so much. 

    How serendipitous that you got to meet Ms. Kempton and work with her to get her important words published. Congrats to her and to you! 

    I am going to be querying you. :)