‘For years I imagined being an author

Seeing my book in the window of Waterstones was my primary objective when I chose to compose an unique throughout lockdown. While I was positive in my writing and the story I ‘d settled on, I understood getting a publishing offer would be no simple accomplishment. It would not be the very first time I ‘d attempted.

I've been composing for as long as I can keep in mind, beginning with a choose-your-own-adventure book when I had to do with 10, total with secret tunnels and dragons. Okay so I didn't really attempt to get that a person released, however it was the start of a long-lasting dream.

There followed 3 or 4 note pads filled with angsty poems in my teenagers, primarily about unrequited crushes and young boys acting terribly, together with lyrics for my preferred artists at the time (advance Bon Jovi and DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince). It was in my early twenties that I returned to my dream of being a bona fide author.

The very first book I composed, while circumnavigating Australia, was a Bridget Jones-esque rom com about 2 women contending in both love and life. I've reread it just recently and I do believe it has a specific appeal, in spite of being extremely dated now– the characters do not have smart phones! The message I got back then from the couple of representatives I sent it to was that chick lit had actually had its day. It went into the box under my bed with all my earlier scribblings.

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I then composed a fictionalised variation of my journeys, slightly meaning to put it out into the world. By the time I ‘d completed it, I felt like the travel-based fiction market was filled, plus I didn't desire anybody I understood who read it to presume it was real! Into package it went.

Next up was yet another rom com– this time about an estate representative who goes to severe procedures to impress the customer he's attempting to offer a home to. It still makes me laugh when I read it back now, however life obstructed and I never ever completed it. And you can inform how old it is now from the reality that the estate representative was delighted that the customer had a quarter of a million pounds to invest– which would most likely purchase you a phone box in London nowadays.

Reflecting to the words of the representative who informed me chick lit was dead, I altered tack totally in my thirties and composed a dark drama about a high security jail unlawfully evaluating drugs on the prisoners and the frightening journey of the news press reporter attempting to get the story exposed. Once again, I approached a handful of representatives once I ‘d completed it, however while I had some favorable feedback, it didn't lead to an offer. To this day, I've never ever taken a look at that a person once again, however it's there in package under the bed for a rainy day.

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Fast-forward nearly 20 years, throughout which I composed numerous travel functions and reveal evaluations for the different publications I worked for, and I discovered myself with more extra time on my hands than typical thanks to lockdown. I searched for the successful book of the last years– the Fifty Shades trilogy offered millions– and the most watched television series– Strictly Come Dancing was up there– and concluded that an obscene love set versus the background of a telecasted dance program had the possible to fly off racks.

And I was right– to a degree. When I ‘d ended up composing it, which took 7 months, and modifying it, which took another 6, I protected a representative after just 4 techniques, and a publishing offer followed quickly later on. The Dance Deception was launched in August 2023 and it retailed in grocery stores throughout the nation. I was definitely happy.

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With the self-confidence that has actually originated from now remaining in my early fifties, I approached my regional Waterstones to ask if they would call some copies in, which I provided to sign. And the supervisor not just concurred, he positioned one in the window so I might take the picture I ‘d imagined. I ‘d in fact done it! He even kept the book on screen there for a number of weeks, which put a huge smile on my face whenever I strolled past.

What I have not discussed is that I likewise had 2 other objectives when I began composing The Dance Deception. Number 2 was settling my home mortgage and 3 was getting a Netflix series made from the book, which in hindsight were both extremely impractical. Then once again, if you ‘d informed ten-year-old me that in forty years' time I ‘d be tossing a celebration to commemorate my 2nd released unique coming out, that most likely would not have actually felt really reasonable either. And yet here I am, with Playing The Field out now in paperback– so who understands where my love of composing will lead next …

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Playing The Field by Becky Ward (Avon, ₤ 9,99) is offered at Amazon.co.uk or here at Waterstones