Rocky Path to Novelist's Successful Publication

 

Rocky Path to Publication by Novelist, Rosemary Morris.

 

Many people daydream about what they would like to accomplish. I am fortunate because my dream of becoming a published historical novelist has come true.

Looking back, it seems that since childhood I prepared to share my tales of times past. Maybe, while I was in my cot, a good fairy blessed me with a vivid imagination. If so, it was too lively for my parents, who couldn’t relate to it. They wanted a child with her feet firmly planted on the ground. Instead, my head was either filled with history, make-believe people, or the book I was reading. 

So many obstacles intervened between my dream and reality. I have three very painful memories connected with writing and reading. The first, is my mother’s refusal to give me some paper on which to write a story when I was ten years old. The second is of borrowing a book every day from the library, and the librarian’s doubt that I had read all of them. The third is of an English teacher at Wallington County Grammar School for Girls. The first clash came when she asked the class what we had been reading.

 “Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy,” I answered when it was my turn, as though it was the most natural choice for a thirteen-year-old.

“Don’t tell lies,” was her ice-cold response.

That stung because I was a very truthful child. If she had questioned me, I would have admitted I didn’t understand all the ins and outs of the story but would have explained I enjoyed Hardy’s prose.

Clash number two concerned my composition about a nightmare in which I tried to capture imaginary terror. She unjustly accused me either of writing about a real nightmare or of plagiarism, a word I was unfamiliar with. Enough about discouragement from my mother and teacher. However, despite many subsequent setbacks, I never lost my love of history, reading and making up stories. Eventually, I wrote a historical romance a major publisher accepted. Unfortunately, the publishing house was sold, and the new editor did not like my novel. I did not know the date of publication should have been stipulated in the contract, so my novel remained unpublished.

My road to publication was very difficult. I lived in Kenya for twenty years where, although I had the privilege of visiting national parks and enjoying holidays at the coast, swimming in the warm Indian ocean, the country did not inspire me to write fiction. History inspired me, but without adequate research facilities I struggled.

We left East Africa. After four years in France, we settled in South East England. When our children left home, my late husband encouraged me to write. I completed the Open College of the Art’s writing course, read books on how to write, went on a Writer’s Holiday, joined The Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Historical Novel Society and a local writer’s group.

After false starts with two unsatisfactory publishers who I accepted an offer from Books We Love.

The long struggle to become a multi-published historical romance author has been worthwhile. It is an example of the cliché, ‘if at first you don’t succeed try, and try and try again.’ I am fortunate to have achieved my dream.

 

#Classic#Historical#Romance# Rich in period detail by Rosemary Morris

Medieval novel set in Edward II’s reign. Yvonne, Lady of Cassio. Volume Two, Grace, Lady of Cassio will be published in August 2021.

 

Early 18^th century novels set in Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, 1702-1714. Far Beyond Rubies, Tangled Love, The Captain and The Countess.

 

Regency novels. False Pretences. Loosely connected series which don’t need to be read in sequence. False Pretences, Sunday’s Child, Monday’s Child, Tuesday’s Child, Wednesday’s Child, Thursday’s Child, Friday’s Child, Saturday’s Child.

 

Available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BooksWeLove, Kobo, Smashwords, Walmart and other online stores. The first three chapters of each novel may be read on my web site. www.rosemarymorris.co.uk