Years ago, I was part of a group job interview, at which point the interviewer asked the four or five people present to describe a time when they had been rejected. My mind went blank. Rejected? When had I been rejected? She couldn’t have been asking about my dating life. I was married, and had been for several years. How was I supposed to remember rejection from something so long past?
Since the job was in retail, the interviewer probably meant for us to tell her about when we had been rejected on a sales pitch, but it had been a while since I’d worked retail, and I could think of nothing there either. I came up with a lame, vague answer and we moved onto the next question.I did get the job, despite that blunder, and did well in retail. While it’s true that I didn’t sell everything I pitched to consumers, the store where I worked was specialized, and people shopped there because they liked the brand, so I never felt utterly and completely rejected in that position.During that same time, I discovered a deep and profound joy in creating stories and began the arduous journey to becoming an author. The agony of rejection was something I learned swiftly and deeply. It is the kind of rejection that cuts to the core of a person and changes how you see the world forever. It is also the kind of rejection that, for me, did not end within weeks or months, but lasted for years that felt endless. In this industry, rejection is a necessary part of the process.I’ve been writing for a long time now, and I still get the occasional soul-crushing rejection. All authors do. We understand this, and use these rejections to learn, grow, and become better.Now I have signed with a literary agent who cushions my rejections for me, two published novels which are doing well, and two more novels scheduled for release in 2015. I have found success, despite my setbacks. I have learned to fly, despite having repeatedly fallen.
In the event that I someday happen upon that interviewer again, I hope I get the chance to share my very real experience with rejection, and how I overcame it. I hope I get to tell her how rejection has made me fearless and strong. I hope I get to tell her how rejection has given me wings.
Nichole Giles had early
career plans that included becoming an actress or a rockstar, but she decided instead
to have a family and then become a writer.
She was born in Nevada, the
oldest of seven—a number which increased to eleven with the addition of four
step brothers—and has lived in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and South Texas.
Her
future aspirations include owning a home on a tropical island, even if it's
just a vacation home. For now, she plans to travel to as many tropical
locations as possible, scouting for her future paradise.
Two months ago,
Abigail Johnson saved the life of the boy she believes is her destiny and
defeated an army of demons that have pursued her ancestors for centuries. Now, she
and Kye should be taking their place as leaders of the new generation of
Gifted, but the curse they thought was broken has returned, and every minute
together brings them closer to death.
When remaining shadow
demons attack again, the Dragons send Abby to Mexico. But she isn’t any safer
here than she was back home. The shadows have tracked her, the locals expect
her to help with their own demon problems, and the more time she spends away
from Kye, the more she doubts the destiny that ties them together.
Descendant on Amazon Birthright on Amazon
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