The second publisher that gets CUCKOO is interested. The editor says she loved it because it is ‘dark and juicy and cleverly manipulative.’  They want to know what else I have planned, and we arrange a meeting. I am all over the place with excitement and sit down to read the manuscript yet again so that . . . → Read More

So, on Simon’s advice, I have written a prologue, so that prospective publishers know that, despite the seemingly innocent, domestic beginning, dark days are ahead.

I have also written a biog, found a not too awful photograph, and outlined CUCKOO on one sheet of A4, and my next novel on another piece of paper, which I am . . . → Read More

Cuckoo by Wendy Perriam

Cuckoo by Linda Anderson

I thought that there were no novels called just CUCKOO. But I did a thorough search on Amazon and came up with two, both out of print:

Cuckoo by Wendy Perriam (pub 1992)
Cuckoo by Linda Anderson (pub 1986)

Simon asks for other title ideas, and I try, I . . . → Read More

I go up to London on the train, looking through my manuscript one last time.

The woman sitting next to me keeps peering over my shoulder. I like that she must think that I am a real writer. If this meeting goes well, then perhaps  I might think that about myself too.

When you get off the train . . . → Read More

I realise, on reading CUCKOO through so that I can remember what I wrote when I go to my meeting at United Agents, that I somehow didn’t include chapter 10 in the version I sent to Simon Trewin. I wonder if, seeing that he didn’t notice, it is entirely necessary, but I forward it anyway, with . . . → Read More