It's
true what they say about never throwing any of your old writing away.
You just never know...
 |
| My three when they were little. |
Years
and years ago, when my three children were all young, and my writing
was in its very early stages, ie, writing loads and getting loads
rejected, they liked to help out now and then.
The
kids all knew and liked the fact that mum was trying to be a writer,
and often encouraged me – especially my son Wayne who would add a
line of narrative whenever he found my computer open and I was off
probably doing the dishes or making dinner.
Later
as I would be reading through my story, I'd find his helpful line
that was going to turn my story into a best seller ....And
somewhere an owl hooted.
“Wayne!!”
I'd yell.
It
got to be a bit of a standing joke over the years, and he has never
got out of the habit of adding his 'catch phrase' whenever he gets
the chance. Now donkey's years on with the kids all grown up and
flown the nest, and with kids of their own (well two of them) I still
find ...And somewhere an owl hooted in whatever I'm
working on if he happens to call by and spots my computer open. The
most recent time only a few months ago. It just makes me laugh
although I wouldn't be surprised if one day I'll be reading through
something I've had published and I'll see his handiwork there in
print, somehow having escaped my eagle eye.
Thinking
back to the very first time he'd added his few words, it was to a
story I was working on called Death Lay Waiting which was an
adult novel about murder and a kidnapping. After I'd finished it, I
sent it off to various publishers. I remember one rejection coming
back saying it was too violent and gory and another came back saying
it wasn't hard hitting enough. Eventually it got put away in a drawer
and I got on with other stuff. Happily that other stuff turned into
six books for Scholastic, the first being Cry Danger.
Then
about two years ago as I was sorting out my old filing cabinet I came
across this slightly yellowing manuscript, with the title Death
Lay Waiting. Attached was a review by a writing tutor who I
couldn't even remember sending it to. His comments were very
encouraging, which made me wonder why I hadn't persevered with it
years ago.
I
think when you first start out, a rejection letter is a rejection
letter. I didn't realise then that I should have taken those editor's
comments on board and re-wrote/adjusted or whatever.
However,
curious, I re-read my story and realised that it wasn't too bad at
all, so I set about re-writing it and bringing it up to date, and off
it went again winging its way to another publisher, only to have it
rejected again; and then another publisher – who, to my absolute
delight, have accepted it!
It's
an American publisher who I hadn't heard of, but they seem very keen
and there's a contract for hardback and paperback and as an e-book,
with an advance – not huge, but still an advance, and decent
royalties.
I'm
over the moon about it, and just so pleased that a story first
written, dare I say it, over twenty years ago, is finally going to
see the light of day.
And
now that I'm making a start on the proofs, I wonder if I can slip in
there somewhere that classic line...And somewhere an owl hooted.
