Sarasota author Beth Rice has been published in three different Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She has published three of her own books and has written hundreds if not thousands of pieces of content for DutchCrafters Amish Furniture in Sarasota.
Her newest publication is her first self-published book called “Behind the Receptionist’s Desk” and she stopped in to talk about the book, her journey, and what is next.
Meet Sarasota Author Beth Rice: From Receptionist to Independent Author
Beth Rice, a talented Sarasota author and independent writer, stopped by to share her inspiring journey. Known for her contributions to Chicken Soup for the Soul and hundreds of articles for DutchCrafters, Rice recently published her first novel, Behind the Receptionist’s Desk.
In this exclusive interview, Beth shares her path to becoming a full-time writer, her thoughts on independent publishing, and her plans for the future.
The Spark That Ignited a Sarasota Writer’s Journey
What first sparked your interest in writing, and when did you know it was something you wanted to pursue seriously?
I had a knack for writing silly rhymes when I was in grade school. I enjoyed World Literature in high school and loved my creative writing class in college. But it wasn’t until I was married with a family and working a job as a receptionist that I decided to pursue it seriously. It was my father that fueled that spark.
He asked me point-blank, “When are you going to get serious about your writing?” That just changed everything. My father was a well-read man. He believed I could write; I just didn’t believe it myself. That moment honestly changed my life’s path. I seriously pursued writing from the day he uttered that question.
From Receptionist to Full-Time Sarasota Author: Interview with Beth Rice
How has your background or life experiences influenced your writing?
It took me a while to become confident as a writer. I still have trouble referring to myself as one. It’s like I still feel I need to earn it. I’ve always had great support from my family to pursue my dreams—there was plenty of encouragement there.
One of the best life experiences for me was landing a dream job at DutchCrafters—a furniture company that specializes in solid wood furniture. I was initially hired part-time to write product descriptions for their website. I could not believe I was getting paid to write. I remember how thrilling it was getting that first check from them.
I went on to work for them full-time for 8 ½ years on their marketing team. Working for DutchCrafters had tremendous influence on me. Number one, it was shaping my writing—working 40 hours a week writing blogs, sale emails, product descriptions, speeches, pages of content, it really sharpened my writing skills.
Another big influence at that job were the opportunities to learn. My boss gave reading assignments to some of us, and one of the books he gave the marketing team was This is Marketing by Seth Godin. I started following Seth and found his ideas encouraging. I started to envision a way to market my novel that would be unique from that book.
A Sarasota Author’s First Novel: Behind the Receptionist’s Desk
What’s the main theme or message you hope readers take away from your book?
I would say the main theme or message I hope readers take away from my book is one of both self-acceptance and courage. It’s okay to take time to figure things out and find what you’re good at. It’s okay to not have it all figured out, but once you do find a goal or hobby or dream to embrace, you gotta try for it.
Can you share an excerpt or describe a favorite scene or character?
While Brenda is the heroine of the book, I love the Dr. Anthony Cardelli character. He’s a mixture of compassion and quirk. He’s gifted, intelligent, patient, yet clumsy, brave without knowing it, silly and always one to walk right into the absurd. It’s easy to write him into funny scenes as well as the most touching ones. He will have a bigger presence in the second book.
One of the scenes I love with him is when he asks Brenda, “Brenda, am I speaking English right now?” And she says, “Yes.” And he says, “Are you sure?” and he proceeds to re-enact his interaction with a client who wasn’t listening to anything he said and repeated his instructions back to him completely wrong.
Challenges and Rewards of Being an Independent Author
What has been the most rewarding part of writing and publishing your book?
Completing it is a reward in itself. It took me 14 years! That’s gotta be a record! I love getting feedback, and not just compliments. I can handle the suggestions and hearing what readers didn’t like so much. I love hearing about how my writing affected someone or how they could relate to the story.
What challenges did you face during the self-publishing process, and how did you overcome them?
Self-publishing comes with a stigma—it’s not good writing, anyone can do it, etc. It’s true, Amazon makes it possible for anyone to self-publish pretty much anything. I worked with a professional copy editor (Susan Hicks) to make it the best I could. I have a lot of faith in my work; I believe it’s worth the read. I also had to admit what I could handle and what I couldn’t.
The formatting process to upload your manuscript through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing was tough for me. It was over my head. I enlisted the help of another talent who is not intimidated by the many challenges of formatting—Milca Rivera—and she did that part of the work for me.
Note: In the video, Beth mentioned that former DutchCrafters colleague Jake Smucker designed the artwork for the book. Jake used to be on the marketing team at DutchCrafters with Beth and he now owns Newvo Productions.
And finally, the biggest challenge of self-publishing? No one is going to know about your book unless you get out there and promote it yourself. There’s no publishing house to help, so I have to figure out how to reach and create an audience for myself. That’s gonna take a lot of work, but I’m excited about it.
Sarasota Community Support for Local Writers
How has the Bradenton/Sarasota community supported you in your journey?
My friends and family spread the word and share my book as much as they can. DutchCrafters has done some social media posts for me, as well as Brand New Chapters, which is a wonderful non-profit that builds little free libraries in the area and collects books to fill them. This interview with you is a great opportunity, and I appreciate it.
What advice would you give to others in the community who are considering writing or starting a creative endeavor?
For those who are considering writing, I would encourage them to read, read, read. Sample several different authors so you can get familiar with their styles. Read some classics. If you want to be a good writer, you’ve really got to have a healthy appetite for reading.
Joining a writing group is a good idea. Sarasota Fiction Writers is a great group. You can ask questions, learn, and get feedback. Joining groups that support your activity is good.
For any writers who are looking to dip a toe in submitting for publication, I would strongly suggest submitting to Chicken Soup for the Soul. They offer a wonderful opportunity for writers, and they make it easy to submit.
The Future of Sarasota Author Beth Rice
What are you working on next? Can we expect another book or project soon?
My next steps involve promoting my book with what I’m calling The Stories and Books Show and working on the sequel to Behind the Receptionist’s Desk. The show is basically good storytelling with some audience participation.
I’d also like to continue work on another book about my experiences growing up as an adopted person. That book will be called Once My Name Was Jeanie.
Sarasota Author: Beth Rice’s Books
Behind the Receptionist’s Desk
The Tale End Stories From the Vet
I’m Adopted, I’m Special
Beth Rice Featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul
To learn more about Beth Rice and her work, visit Beth’s Facebook page or pick up a copy of her book on Amazon today.