It’s no secret that I completed the first draft of CUT SHORT in six weeks, and two weeks after I’d sent out the manuscript I received a phone call from a publisher who offered me a three book deal. After editing, rewriting and research, my first book hit the shelves and sold out so fast that it was reprinted three times in under a year. Following that success, ROAD CLOSED has just been published ahead of schedule as WH Smith’s Travel selected it for a promotion. It’s been a thrilling rollercoaster but my publishing deal turned up so suddenly and unexpectedly that I still can’t believe this wildly exciting experience is really happening to me.
I only discovered my passion for writing three years ago when an idea for a story popped into my head and I began to write it down. Since then, I haven’t been able to stop writing. As a school teacher my days are tiring, but I have evenings and weekends free for writing, and time before the school day begins if I arrive at work early, and lunch times… and the school holidays are no longer holidays. As Eugene Ionesco said, “A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.”
I’ve heard it said that finding a publisher is like climbing a high mountain. Once you reach the summit, you see an even higher mountain ahead – book sales. This week is half term so I’m doing four book signings, giving a talk, appearing on a panel of bestselling crime writers, and completing the first draft of my third book. I enjoy giving talks and going to book signings, getting out and about meeting readers, but all this promotion is another demand on my time.
Sometimes I think I must be slightly insane… but I love writing and everything associated with it, and the pressure of limited time seems to help my creativity almost as much as a deadline from my publisher! Another benefit of being so busy is that I have no time to stress about how my second book will be received, and no time to worry about “writer’s block”. If I have a free hour or two, that’s it – I’m writing!
Thank you Leigh! I know Gerry, who reviewed Cut Short, is looking forward to reviewing Road Closed. Be sure to check out more from Leigh on her blog.
6 comments:
Leigh, It's more difficult to get your books here in Mexico and the US but I'm excited because I just ordered your book Cut Short and it shipped yesterday. When I read it, I will do a review and hopefully get to ask you a few questions.
I plan to buy Road CLosed as soon as it's available in the US.
CD
Thank you, Clarissa. I look forward to receiving your questions and reading your review. I hope you enjoy CUT SHORT!
What an amazing story! It's so nice to hear that writers can have successes like Leigh's. Thanks for the postive post, Leigh!
Wow that's a great post, really interesting to hear about your writing journey Leigh. Thanks for sharing :) x
My pleasure, Talli and Carly and thanks for your good wishes. I hope you both have success - and a lot of fun! - with your own writing.
Hi Leigh, this is wonderfully encouraging for a novice writer like myself. You have done so well and to hear such a success story as yours gives new writers an incentive to carry on, passed those rejections and days of writer's block.
I have recently finished a paranormal novel of which I am now editing, but it is taking a long time and I hope my next book won't be so time consuming.
Best wishes, Kathryn (CJ) xx
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