This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
I didn’t set out to write a romantic comedy. In fact, I didn’t even know I was writing one. At first it was just a collection of ideas that eventually gelled into something that made me laugh. I reckon you can only write to please yourself and hope someone else likes it.
My previous attempt at a novel was a crime thriller, rejected by publishers and agents alike but got great reviews when I gave up trying the ‘traditional route’ and self-published. That gave me some encouragement but it took me nearly two years to whip Love Byte into some kind of acceptable shape. (I work full-time so don’t get to write every day – I fit it in when and where I can.)
I then methodically set out to try and get some interest in the manuscript. My skin was all the thicker from my previous experiences so I was well prepared for the expected flurry of rejections usually delivered by email, occasionally by letter that said, ‘thanks but no thanks.’
What I was NOT prepared for was someone saying, ‘We like your book. Can we publish it please?’.
The fateful letter arrived just as I was on the way out of the door. It was very thin with the publishers name on the top-left-hand corner so I automatically assumed ‘rejection letter’. I shoved it into my pocket and promptly forgot about it. I then took my two girls (aged four and two) to soft-play and swimming (they don’t actually do both at the same time though that would be kind of fun). My wife was working another 12 hour shift so it was just me and the girls for the rest of the day.During lunch I suddenly remembered the morning post and retrieved the now very crushed envelope from the depths of my jeans pocket. I opened it, anticipating disappointment. It was a single typed page and as I read the first few lines it gradually dawned on me that they actually liked and wanted to publish my book.
I actually don’t remember too much about the rest of that day, apart from telling my oldest daughter what had happened but she simply asked, ‘Is it like The Tiger That Came to Tea?’. When I said no, she lost interest and wandered off.
Robert Hale has been brilliant in getting Love Byte edited and ready for publication – and, with a launch date of June 30, the excitement is growing all the time!
David's book, Love Byte, is out on Monday June 30.