Annie’s fantastic odyssey

‘Back in October 2010, I signed up for a creative writing course with the Open University and wrote a 1,500 word short story about a call centre operator helping people solve problems with their magical artefacts,’ writes subscriber Annie Percik.

‘A friend of mine read it and said he thought the idea could be expanded into a novel. He challenged me to write it and I mostly decided to give it a try just to prove him wrong, since I was convinced I would never be able to write something that long and involved. But I gradually expanded the short story over several years and it eventually turned into a novel. It’s a fantasy book about a world where there’s no electricity and everything runs on magic power. The hero, Abelard, gets his dream when a freak accident gives him the power to manipulate magical energy, but he quickly discovers the world of the magic-users holds a lot of secrets that they don’t want revealed.

‘Fast forward to June 2018 when I submitted the synopsis and opening chapter to four agents at the Winchester writing festival. None of them were interested and the feedback they gave me was wildly contradictory, leaving me with no idea how to move forwards. The only point they all agreed on was that the naming convention for the artefacts was annoying and should be changed. I felt utterly demoralised as I had thought this was one of the unique selling points of the novel and something I wasn’t keen to alter.

‘I was well aware that it was presumptuous of me to expect that my first novel would be picked up by someone on my first try. So, I decided it might be best to archive the manuscript, take all the lessons I had learned along the way, and start work on something new.

‘Then I saw an article in Writing Magazine about small independent presses and the advantages of submitting to them over seeking a literary agent as the first step towards traditional publication. One of the presses featured in the article was Fantastic Books Publishing and what they said about their process and their approach to building relationships with authors really struck a chord with me.

‘So, I dusted off my synopsis and first chapter and sent them off to Fantastic Books. In less than a month, I got a request for the full manuscript, and a very enthusiastic reader report, which highlighted the naming convention for the magical artefacts as one of the best aspects of the book. I had found a publisher that understood and appreciated what I was trying to do with my writing!

‘There followed the inevitable rounds of edits and resubmissions, but Fantastic Books were always very encouraging and constructive in their criticism, making the whole process very enjoyable overall. ‘And, in February 2021, I achieved my long-time dream of holding a paperback in my hands with my name on the cover! 

‘The Defiant Spark is available in ebook and paperback now via Amazon.

‘You can find out more about both The Defiant Spark and my other writing at my website. There’s also an interview with me talking about the novel, and a video of me reading part of the first chapter.

‘So, thank you Writing Magazine for introducing me to my publisher, and teaching me the lesson that perseverance is the key.’

Website: www.alobear.co.uk

A ten-book milestone

‘My tenth published title sees the return of my Aylesbury based detectives Lizzie Archer and Dan Baines are back in a new thriller,’ writes subscriber Dave Sivers.

‘It’s my ninth novel, tenth published title, and the sixth outing for Archer and Baines. It feels like a real milestone, having been writing all my life, including columns and articles in local newspapers and regional magazines, as well as short stories in Take a Break magazine and other publications.

‘I grew up in West London and now live in Buckinghamshire, where I am co-founder of the BeaconLit festival of books and writing. My writing has also given me the opportunity to appear at other book festivals and events, and to give talks to WIs and other groups. Like many writers, I’ve been missing the interaction with readers and with other authors, and I can’t wait for live events to be possible again.

‘In Die in the Dark, a vicious homophobic attack in Aylesbury sees the start of a new investigation. As Archer and Baines search for answers, another woman is found left for dead, her partner missing – and this time the victims are closer to home for the team. Amid a desperate race to find the missing woman, Baines finds himself once again confronted by the demons he hoped he was putting behind him. It’s a distraction that could cost him his sanity – and a friend her life.