People keep asking when my next book will be published. Now there’s a story…
Since Kiss of the Tsunami was published in 2016, it has received great reviews and I enjoy giving author talks, but unless you have an amazing marketing strategy, it’s hard to reach ‘the next layer of the onion,’ so to speak. I love creating new characters and plotlines, and five more stories are floating around in The Cloud while I try the traditional publishing route, but there are so many obstacles to overcome to reach your goal and mountains to climb. First, you need to secure representation from an agent who is like an ambassador to the publishing houses. I’ve discovered that’s very difficult unless you happen to win a competition, bump into a celebrity who loves your book, or even better, be a celebrity!
So here’s an update on current writing. In 2020, my uplifting women’s fiction was shortlisted for Penguin WriteNow Open Day. “This was a very perceptive take on motherhood, marriage and being a woman. A lot of readers will see themselves reflected in these well-drawn out and very real characters.” (Feedback from Rebecca Hilsdon, editor of the Michael Joseph imprint of Penguin Random House.) The same story was shortlisted for David Higham Associates Open Day for Under-Represented Writers 2020 and I received this feedback: “This author ‘gets’ Commercial Women’s Fiction and has come up with a smart, hopeful idea for a book.”
I’ve just completed an adventure with elements of fantasy set in NW India. The story is aimed at 9-12 year-olds and I’ve also written three comic stories for this age-group, one from the point of view of a dog. My own dog has been very helpful in this! I have MS but I’ve been blessed with continued good health, and my energetic golden retriever takes me for walks every day.
Deadlines can be motivating. This spring, I sent all four children’s submissions to competitions, pushing doors. I pitched one of these stories in a Mslexia event this year, and Debbie Taylor, the editor of Mslexia magazine, said, “This is a brilliant idea for a novel and a fantastic title.” Agent Megan Carroll said, “Such a fun sounding pitch Rachel, and love the idea of two rival takeaway restaurants – a platonic Romeo and Juliet! Sounds ideal for the age group and the concept is very clearly illustrated here.”
Whenever you conquer a peak like this, you think, “This is going to be it!” But as those who go hiking know only too well, there’s often another downer and a deep valley to cross before the next ascent. Another high was being a mentee in the WriteMentor Summer Programme 2021; it was a fabulous opportunity and I learned a lot being mentored by Tasha Harrison, author of Something About Lemons and Clementine Florentine.
It’s encouraging when agents ask for a full manuscript, but then you wait. And wait. Sometimes you’re ghosted and other times you get a polite rejection. It’s a tough business. Writers in my critique group are saying it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find an agent, and even those with agents are saying it’s very difficult to get a publishing deal.
So… I’ve made a decision that if a door doesn’t fully open by mid-August (which happens to be my birthday), I’ll self-publish again. Please hold me to it, because I said that last year and the year before, and I don’t want to make the same New Year’s Resolution in 2024!
