Give up the dream? Never!

Today is the perfect day to tell you not to give up on your dream of becoming a published author. Why? Because I considered packing it all in a couple of days ago. Most likely, this would have been a temporary glitch, but it still crossed my mind. And justifiably.

I want to give you my full manuscript-to-publication story, warts, tantrums, tears and all, so you can fully understand how I got to this point. I think it’s important because it can look like everyone else finds being an author so easy. I’d say that’s true of very few. 

Here’s my publishing timeline and, as you will see, my “toss in the towel” moment in March 2025:

How I look when I remember how I almost gave up the dream.

2020: I write my first serious* novel, a historical fiction about an ancient Greek courtesan. I get a flurry of full manuscript requests from agents, but nobody bites. 

Later in 2020 and into 2021: I begin writing my detective story set in modern Athens where murders inspired by the ancient myths are investigated. I am sure this will be picked up because it is my second go… so obviously! I have four full manuscript requests, resulting in one very lengthy R&R, which results in no offer. 

2021: I write a Scottish amateur sleuth mystery and, again, am certain this will be my big hit. I even pay to get it professionally edited, just to seal the deal. I have two full manuscript requests and, you guessed it, nothing…

2022: I am in a bit of a free fall when it comes to my writing career. I start writing a historical fiction novel about Costanza Piccolomini, Bernini’s one-time lover, but it sits unfinished. For a bit of fun to cheer myself up, I also begin writing a Mills & Boon-esque historical romance set in Renaissance Florence. 

Early 2023: I send the Scottish amateur sleuth mystery to a publisher I’ve heard about through a friend of a friend who is a bestselling author. They’re called Bloodhound Books and, by this point, I’m fairly sure it will result in another rejection. 

A little bit later in 2023: It does indeed result in a rejection. BUT… I am scrappy and hungry and I have no dignity left. So, I respond to the rejection with a cheeky request for their editorial team to look at another manuscript: my detective story set in Athens… the myth murders one. 

A little bit later in 2023: An email lands in my inbox from Bloodhound… they want to offer me a publishing contract for my book! Woop! It will be published in May 2024, and they would like a sequel to publish a few months later. 

My first published book, The Athenian Murders (Bloodhound Books).

2023 going into 2024: I write the sequel to The Athenian Murders, which is called The Saturn House Killings, whilst doing edits and promotion for The Athenian Murders. 

2024: A big year for me. The Athenian Murders is released in May, followed by The Saturn House Killings in August. The former becomes a bestseller, hitting the UK Overall Top 100. I cheekily double check that the good people at Bloodhound definitely don’t want my Scottish mystery book. They definitely don’t, but very kindly offer to help with the cover and bits and bobs. 

Later in 2024: I self-publish my Scottish mystery, called Cold Secrets. It’s a bit of a passion project and the process is tremendous fun. I also (in the name of more fun) complete my secret Renaissance category romance book.

A little later in 2024: Someone else publishes a historical fiction book about Costanza Piccolomini. BIG SIGH. That’s 50k words wasted, then. I start writing a new mystery thriller.

Late 2024 into 2025: I finish writing the new mystery thriller. I send it to multiple agents and publishers. I hear nothing, nothing at all. 

March 2025: This is where I consider giving up. Perhaps it was all a flash in the pan. A nice while it lasted. A blink and you missed it moment. 

BUT NO!

A little later in March 2025: An offer of publication lands in my inbox!!! I cannot yet say from whom, because the contract is being finalised, but I will in due course.

All this is to say… and yes, I’m speaking to you at the back:

You never, ever know when things are going to take a turn for the better. You never know what’s going to land in your inbox tomorrow. 

Things can feel a bit rough as an author. It can be isolating and hopeless. You can feel stupid and misled. I won’t advise not to feel these nasties, because they are, frankly, a part of the parcel. I will advise to brush that dust off the laptop and get to business. Even if you write ten words, that’s a step in the right direction. 

Never give up on yourself. 

*I wrote two novels before that I thought were serious, but, in retrospect, were absolutely not.