As a senior fiction editor for Summerside Press, Rachel Meisel manages editorial processes and acquisitions for the Love Finds You™ fiction series. Prior to joining Summerside in 2007, she worked as an editor and writer for both the Christian and general markets. She has an MA in English Literature and spent two years teaching college writing classes.

Three weeks ago I sat at a table in John Elway’s steak house in downtown Denver, where the staff of Summerside Press had gathered for dinner before ICRS. In attendance was an author who’d been invited to share a few words with us. Something he said has stuck with me for the past few weeks, something along the lines of “If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to fail.” In other words, risk is an essential ingredient of success.

Thankfully, we noticed this when we began laying the groundwork for the company that would become Summerside Press, and since then, we’ve been willing to take a few risks.

Risk means having faith in people and their potential. When the folks at Summerside approached me, I had admittedly little direct experience in publishing. But they were willing to take a risk on me. They wanted an editor with fresh perspective, someone who wouldn’t just follow the status quo. I know fiction, and that’s enough for them.

Risk means trying the untried. Our Love Finds You series has a unique hook that marries fiction and fact: It places fictional romance stories in actual towns and cities across the United States. Risk means that even after publishing fourteen titles in the series, we aren’t afraid to publish edgy stories featuring characters who are flawed and in need of redemption (kind of like you and me).

Risk means pursuing authors with talent, not just chasing the biggest names in the business. In October of 2008, we released our first two fiction titles—excellent books written by gifted storytellers. We recognize that these authors, along with agents, buyers, retailers, and readers, took a risk on us, and for that we’re grateful.

So far the risks are paying off, but we know we have much to learn. As Summerside Press gains momentum, we aim to continually learn, innovate, and adapt in smart and prudent ways. We’re well aware that if success requires taking risks, the reverse is not always true. Being haphazardly risky does not always pay off.

Although risk taking increases one’s susceptibility for failure, it can be healthy. Not only can risk pave the way to success, but also it requires a greater measure of faith in God. Leaning on Him is exactly where we want to be. In fact, it’s the safest place of all.

Visit Summerside Press at http://summersidepress.com, and for their submission guidelines go to http://summersidepress.com/Submissions/tabid/59/Default.aspx.

As a senior fiction editor for Summerside Press, Rachel Meisel manages editorial processes and acquisitions for the Love Finds You series. Prior to joining Summerside in 2007, she worked as an editor and writer for both the Christian and general markets. She has an MA in English Literature and spent two years teaching college writing classes. You can contact Rachel at rachel [at] summerside [dot] com.