Writing Magazine April 2020

APRIL 2020 25

HOW I GOT PUBLISHED

http://www.writers-online.co.uk

‘I do not receive unsolicited

manuscripts. Most of my authors find

me through my network.

‘Julie impressed me because she

didn’t let the distance (Australia/

Scotland) stop her from finding a way

to get my email address as I do not

list it online. 

‘I asked her, “why me and not an agent in the UK?”

She replied that my website states I like to discover and

mentor new authors. 

‘I read her novel and saw the potential – a wonderful

setting, good colourful characters and a very easy writing

style. It needed work to take it up a notch (which Julie

was willing to do) and it was picked up by Allen &

Unwin Australia. 

‘The target audience is women of all ages who like to

read novels that have a charming setting and wonderful

love story.  

‘Julie loves writing this genre and has completed her

second novel, The Legend of McKerron Castle, which is

currently being edited.’

Website: http://www.selwaanthony.com.au

Selwa Anthony,

Julie’s agent, says:

to me with her decision within fourteen days, so I spent the next
week or so trying not to refresh my inbox every five minutes. I
tried to feel quietly optimistic and told myself that even if she
declined, having an agent of her stature ask for my completed MS
was a step in the right direction.
‘Then, on day twelve, another emailed arrived from Selwa,
asking if we could have a telephone chat?
‘When I spoke to her, I remember my heart leaping in my chest
when she said my MS required some work but that she loved my
writing style and the premise of my book. Then when she offered
to represent me, I burst into tears.
‘After several rounds of edits, Selwa began submitting A Room at
the Manor and within six weeks, she had secured me a publishing
deal with Allen & Unwin – cue more heart hammering and tears.
‘She then informed me that she had negotiated an audio version
of the book with Bolinda.
‘A Room at the Manor was released in Kindle, paperback and
audio on 27 June 2018 in Australia and New Zealand and since
then, it has also been released by Forever, the romance imprint
of Ullstein in Germany, as an ebook on 4 March 2019 and in
paperback on 2 May 2019. 
‘A Room at the Manor was also released in the UK by Atlantic
Books on Kindle and in paperback on 1 August 2019.
‘The McKerron Castle is out now in audio book from Bolinda
and my agent has just started submitting it to print publishers.
I’m currently working on my next couple of books. I’m currently
working on my next couple of books, but without Selwa’s
assertiveness, passion and persistence, my writing dreams would
never have got off the ground.
‘She believes in me – and for that, I will always be truly grateful.’

Tim Bauer, photographer

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louise.clarke@

warnersgroup.co.uk