Dear Reader,
I'm working on an interesting project over this holiday season. It's the next book I'll be sharing with you guys and I expect it will be finished in record speed. That's because, plot twist, I've already written it!
I wrote this book about ten years ago. It was the first manuscript where I got to write The End. Really it was the first thing I ever wrote that made me think I could actually
be a writer. The book that opened up every possibility! I was so proud!!!
After shopping it around for a couple of months, Penguin
Random House Australia made me an offer. They were my dream publisher and I was over the moon. It felt like a velvet rope had been unclipped and I was being ushered into a mysterious and exclusive club I'd been waiting my whole life to join.
I was finally an author.
I threw myself into everything my new publishers asked me to do. I made all the edits that were suggested, agreed to change the title, and smiled hesitantly at the extreeeemely pink cover they presented to me.
(In case you were curious, traditional published authors who are just starting out have absolutely no say what covers are put on their books. Ask me how I know.)
Then in 2014 my little-book-that-could was launched into the world. Where it did absolutely nothing. N-O-T-H-I-N-G.
Seriously, if over a hundred people read it, I'd be shocked.
I was heartbroken, obviously. But on some level not quite surprised. There had been a few things missing in the book. I'd done my best while writing it. But there were some story elements that I could sense were exactly what they should be, even if I didn't know what they were. The writing could have been stronger.
I was sure I could do better. Which was when I horrified all my nearest and dearest by quitting my job in stockbroking, selling my apartment, and setting off to see if I could figure out what this writing business is really all
about.
(This probably tells you all you need to know about both my personality and my sanity...)
Eight years and ten books later, I've learned a few things.
And I've decided that my little-book-that-could deserves another chance. Because the story is good, even if the writing does need some help.
(Seriously, you should hear me howling at my past self across time "NO! WHY DID YOU WRITE THAT? THAT SENTENCE IS INCOHERENT. IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!!!!")