Today
we welcome Brigid Coady, another of our contenders for this year’s award.
Welcome,
Brigid, congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can you tell
us when you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist?
I have always wanted to be a writer
and also always read romance, so thirteen years ago when I started to take my
writing seriously the stories I wanted to write were romantic. It seemed to
click and no matter what genre I’ve tried to write there will always be a love
story somewhere at the centre of it. I know that the support I’ve received from
the RNA over the years has helped me realised I found the right home.
How
many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different
book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?
I was a member of the NWS scheme
for ten years. I didn’t submit a different book every year, sometimes I sent
the same book or a finished version of a book that I’d sent a partial in for a
previous year. I was always sending my script in at the last minute. I think I
was despaired of! ‘No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham’ was entered in the NWS in
2009.
How
did you find your publisher?
Through the RNA! I met Kim Young
when she worked at M&B; we talked about me submitting short stories. After
her move to HarperCollins she was still interested so I sent her ‘The Last
Kiss’. After writing more short stories, it was a logical step to submit to
them.
Promotion
is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?
I’m still at the beginning of the
promotion and learning my way. I try and be active on social media platforms
and start conversations with people. As my book is wedding themed I’m trying to
promote through wedding sites and when I have a physical book I’ll be hitting
the wedding fairs. I’m finding that it takes up a lot of my time. I’m open to any
advice as I come closer to the publication date in June, all suggestions
welcome.
What
has happened to you as an author since that first sale?
Every one has been incredibly
supportive. It has also reminded me that you really can’t give up and that your
journey is your own and will take as long as it takes. I’m now writing my next novel
and applying everything I learned from ‘No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham’.
How
did you celebrate your first book sale?
I was living in Breckenridge so we
celebrated in mountain fashion, first by going for a trail run, then drinking
at the local bar. Not too much as the altitude makes you a cheap date. When I
got back to the UK I celebrated again. In fact I’m still celebrating!
About author, Brigid Coady:
I
was born in the UK but raised round the world and spent most of my childhood
with my nose in a book. When I was seven I wrote my first proper story about a
magic puddle that flipped up to reveal a secret world underground. I’m now a
non-practicing engineer who works in project management. I write romance and
young adult stories. I’ve been a voice-over and radio continuity artist. I love
country music and used to have my own radio show. My boyfriend says I have an
unhealthy obsession with Kenny Chesney. I live in London.
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