How I got published
Karla Forbes tells Dolores Gordon Smith how she wanted to write thrillers that would appeal to women as well as male readers
Dolores Gordon Smith
‘I began my writing career with a love of reading. I love reading thrillers but found that so many of them are written by men with the male reader in mind. I wanted to write thrillers that would appeal to both sexes so with this in mind, I wrote my first novel and sent it off to Hodder with a warm glow of excitement. Wow, I was going to be an author!
By the time the inevitable rejection dropped through my letter box, reality had set in. But the letter gave me a spark of hope. Betty Schwartz, the submissions editor, commended me on my writing ability. She had enjoyed the story but it just wasn’t quite right for Hodder. I remember dancing around the kitchen with joy. Okay, I’d been rejected, but a professional in the industry had told me I was good and that was the inspiration I needed to try again.