Seven years to publication, seven things I’ve learned

In view of the appreciative response to the above piece I wrote for the Writers’ Workshop (York Festival of Writing) blog, I thought I’d also post the link here on the Literary Sofa. Thanks again to WW for hosting me and for their important role on the journey to publication of my debut novel Paris Mon Amour.   And to those who’ve told me they found my seven lessons encouraging – I’m really pleased to hear it! Hopefully this picture conveys more than my unadventurous taste in diaries…

One person said she ‘couldn’t argue with a single word’ of my post. High praise from anyone, but especially from the editor whose input ‘transformed my fortunes entirely’ (quoting myself there).  But only after I’d spent the best part of a year taking that book to bits and rewriting it.  Twice. Thank you, Debi Alper!

Later this week I’ll be welcoming Scottish author Helen MacKinven back to the Sofa to mark the release of her second published novel Buy Buy Baby, which is actually the first she wrote. Now there’s a story  I find encouraging..!