How I Got To Be Published...
In December 2010 I was listening to The Gerry Anderson Show on Radio Ulster, when I heard an interview between the host and local writer Gerry McCullough. Gerry was talking about her book 'Belfast Girls' and an online publishing site called Nightreading. She was explaining how the site worked and thanking the show's listeners for voting for her. I had been trying for publication for a few years so I decided to investigate the site.
I placed the opening section of my novel Buying Time onto the site and told family and friends about it, when the monthly poll opened I was pleased to find out by email that my blog had been selected in the twenty contenders for the top slot, and that the winning entry would have the offer of a publishing deal. Twelve days later I was surprised to find I had made it to second place in the January Poll. A further surprise was to follow, I was told the result had been so close I was being offered a deal! Of course I was delighted, but asked to be placed in the poll again to see if I could make it to first place, next month, February I did! My novel was released in June 2011 and is available on Amazon. The sequel Trying Times was released in October 2013.
Buying Time was a book I had almost given up on. Over the course of three years a number of publishers had rejected it, but a few had made encouraging comments, indicating they thought the novel was good, just not for them. I am so glad I persevered. There is nothing quite like the feeling of holding a book you have written in your hands, if like me you are trying for publication, keep submitting, don't give up, dreams do come true.
In December 2010 I was listening to The Gerry Anderson Show on Radio Ulster, when I heard an interview between the host and local writer Gerry McCullough. Gerry was talking about her book 'Belfast Girls' and an online publishing site called Nightreading. She was explaining how the site worked and thanking the show's listeners for voting for her. I had been trying for publication for a few years so I decided to investigate the site.
I placed the opening section of my novel Buying Time onto the site and told family and friends about it, when the monthly poll opened I was pleased to find out by email that my blog had been selected in the twenty contenders for the top slot, and that the winning entry would have the offer of a publishing deal. Twelve days later I was surprised to find I had made it to second place in the January Poll. A further surprise was to follow, I was told the result had been so close I was being offered a deal! Of course I was delighted, but asked to be placed in the poll again to see if I could make it to first place, next month, February I did! My novel was released in June 2011 and is available on Amazon. The sequel Trying Times was released in October 2013.
Buying Time was a book I had almost given up on. Over the course of three years a number of publishers had rejected it, but a few had made encouraging comments, indicating they thought the novel was good, just not for them. I am so glad I persevered. There is nothing quite like the feeling of holding a book you have written in your hands, if like me you are trying for publication, keep submitting, don't give up, dreams do come true.