Historical Fiction Author – rejection to realisation
I am now a published historical fiction author. But this did not happen overnight. It was a long and sometimes tortured march filled with disappointment, pain and joy.
It is a writing journey scarred by conflict, forced halts and rejection. And yet, it is also a passage of delight, one of wonderful reviews and glorious book festivals.
Ultimately, it is a journey that may have saved an Army veteran. I feel extraordinarily lucky to have made it.
Soldier & Writer – Armed Forces to Historical Fiction author
I started writing whilst I was serving as a soldier in the British Army. Like so many others, I found myself facing repeated operational deployments. I was close to exhaustion and almost left the forces.
In the end, I did not leave. Instead, I looked for something else I could do – something I could do without actually leaving, something different. I decided to write a novel. I thought it would be easy.
Of course, it was far from easy. It took years. However, it was good to have an alternative outlet, a creative focus. Not just the Army. Not just conflict.
I think writing may have saved me. There are so many veterans still struggling to find peace and a sense of worth. I thank my stars that I chose this path, that I can write, that I am a published author.
Debut Novel – writing book #1, Tolkien & fighting extremism
It took me a very long time to write the manuscript for my first novel. It took longer even that JRR Tolkien needed to write his epic high fantasy, The Lord of the Rings.
At one stage, I did have to stop writing. I was serving overseas amid a worsening security situation. The combination of ISIS, Al Qaida and Boko Haram forced me to put it down for five years.
Eventually, things calmed down and I picked up the manuscript again. I finished writing it just before I left the British Army. Like others, I was given time in my last two years to prepare for civilian employment. Instead of learning a new trade, I ploughed my time into completing the story.
Rejection to Publishing Contract – JK Rowling & writer journey
I should have taken a ‘proper’ job when I left the Army. But I wanted to know if my novel was good enough to be published. I wanted to know if I could write, if I could make it as an author.
After some serious researching of the market and how best to pitch a novel, I started sending out my manuscript to agents. I started at the top, pitching to those who represent the likes of the great Bernard Cornwell, Patrick O’Brian and Conn Iggulden. Each pitch was personal, tailored, crafted.
I received some wonderful responses filled with praise and encouragement. I learnt to accept the rejections. After all, I was pitching something slightly different in a very competitive market.
It was the silences that hurt most. The long, agonising wait and eventual assumption that this agent, or their assistant, was not even going to acknowledge my effort.
Slowly, I worked my way down my list. I had given myself one year to find an agent or publisher. After that, I would stop trying and self-publish my novel. That year was due to end in the March. In the February I received a publishing contract.
In the end, I received as many rejections as JK Rowling. They did not matter anymore. I had a contract. My story was going to be published. It would be a book on the shelves of a bookshop. And I would be a published historical fiction author.
Doubt, Reviews & Realisation – on stage at a book festival
And then the self-doubt crept in. What if nobody bought the book? What if the reviews were bad, or just mediocre? Would that be it, the end of my author dream? I knew there was little chance of a second contract if the first book was a flop.
Until this point, my writing venture had been a lonely pursuit. But now others were involved. There was the publisher, their cover designer, the printers, the sales team, wholesalers, packers, distributors and all the lovely bookshop people. I desperately did not want to disappoint them.
But the reaction to the book, the reviews and feedback were amazing. It continues to be fantastic. It was all wonderful, but slightly overwhelming.
That said, it took a long time for this to sink in, for me to realise that it was not a flop. I think it was only after I found myself on stage in a packed theatre at Chiswick Book Festival that I finally began to accept it, to calm down, to relax.
Writing Book #2 – the real test, readers & expectations
When I wrote book #1 – my debut novel – I had no idea if anyone would read it, let alone enjoy it. I felt I had nothing to lose. I would just give it a go and, if it was a disaster, forget about it afterwards. I would crawl back to what I knew, to being a soldier. I would stop kidding myself and try, belatedly, to pick up a proper job.
Writing book #2 took much longer than I hoped or expected. It was also a very different, tougher experience. Writing a second novel felt much more like a test. Could I even do it again? A bar had been set. There were expectations. I desperately did not want to disappoint readers.
A number of well-established authors told me that this is not an unusual experience. It is akin to the music world’s problematic second LP. Apparently, book #2 is the toughest to write. I hope this remains true. I am now on my way to writing a series.
Book Publishing – writing, editing, soldiering on & Lady Luck.
For an outsider, the literary industry is frustratingly opaque. It is shrouded in misconceptions and contradictory advice. My journey was not easy. I would implore anyone thinking of entering the publishing world to do their research first. They need to understand the risks.
The average author earns surprisingly little. Huge numbers of very good writers don’t get published. Many good books receive no marketing support and go unread.
A writer requires a mix of art and craft, to write and edit a manuscript. I think successful authors need a high degree of empathy and a dose of business acumen too.
Personally, I draw on my experiences as a soldier. I have found that researching historical fiction can be a bit like intelligence analysis. Plotting a novel is almost a reversal of operational planning. More importantly, I think I draw hugely on the self-discipline and determination instilled in me as a soldier. Without them, I might have fallen by the wayside long ago.
My new life as an author is a crazy mixture of quiet and manic days, not unlike soldiering. There are long, sometimes lonely, periods of research and writing at the desk. But these are broken by madly busy days giving author talks, book signings and battlefield walks – all great fun.
Ultimately, there is a great deal of luck involved. I feel very fortunate to be published. I offer my eternal thanks to Lady Luck. My only hope is that enough readers continue to find, buy, read, enjoy my books and post positive reviews. If not, the chances of continuing to be published are slim.
Follow & Read More – News, events & 17th Century history
I hope this author’s journey post was of interest. If so, you might enjoy some of the other posts in this Author Blog. These include posts on Author Life & Writing Historical Fiction and Book Publishing. You might also be interested in my article on Writing and Publishing. Alternatively, check out the Divided Kingdom News posts for book offers and updates.
You can also find a series of posts on this website about life in Early Modern Britain. These include the 17th Century Almanac monthly blog. There are also posts on the British Civil Wars and Living History.
If you would like to meet, please do check out the Author Talks & Book Signings or History Talks & Battlefield Walks I give at Charles Cordell Events. If one of these events will be near you, please do come along, join me and say hello.
Finally, this website includes articles and pages about life in 17th Century Britain, Europe and the Americas at Historical Notes and Maps. These include articles on the impact of the Little Ice Age and The General Crisis of the 17th Century. They also include historical notes from my research on the English Revolution and Great Rebellion, as well as English Civil War battles.
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Divided Kingdom – English Civil War historical fiction
This historical fiction author post aims to offer a little of the backstory to my writing and the Divided Kingdom books. This historical fiction series is set in Early Modern Britain during the English Civil War. I hope you enjoy the books.
The Divided Kingdom books take a fresh approach. They are not based on a single hero. They do not take sides. Their voices – ordinary men and women – face each other in the chaos of Britain in civil war. They are both relatable and sharply relevant today. They are also as historically accurate as possible.
Please do check out some of the writing at Divided Kingdom Books, including book tasters and a FREE ebook short story.
See More – social media & the Divided Kingdom Readers’ Club
Alternatively, check out Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube for more posts. These include notes from my historical research, Living History and English Civil War fiction. They also include upcoming events and opportunities to meet. Or, follow on social media at #DividedKingdomBooks or #EnglishCivilWarFiction on:
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