A Beautiful Publishing Accident

This week, I finished editing Point of Origin, book 6—the final instalment in my series, The Time Travel Chronicles. The manuscript is now with my proofreader. I’ll still have to proofread the print book twice before it’s ready for release. But my fingers-on-the-keyboard part of this journey is done. After more than nine years writing and three editing. It feels…EPIC.

And…strange.

I’m saying goodbye to characters I’ve been with for 12+ years (though they’ve only aged one year!). I’ve witnessed their thoughts, speeches, triumphs and defeats. I’ve cheered for them when they fought enemies, cried when they failed, shouted at them to get up and try again. It’s fair to say, I’ve put them through a round of torture I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy (you know who you are!).

And now the 500,000+ word story is complete.

For readers, the good news is the series has an ending—even if I get hit by a bus tomorrow!

But this is definitely a moment to pause and reflect…on how in the name of the God of Ink and Plotlines I ever got through this?

I wrote the first four books in four years. The last book took over five. And the ending did not come easily. I wanted the series to finish well; I felt I owed it to my readers and myself. But I couldn’t figure out how. For years, I got distracted by short stories and novellas. Though, every so often I sat down and wrote a document headed “ENDING”—at least thirty of those.

Then, an idea hit me (like a blind camel slamming into a pyramid) and I threw out all my notes and just went with it. And, IMHO, it’s a cracker. You might disagree, but you’ll have to read 500,000 words to have that argument with me.

The best part? When I finally wrote every writer’s favourite words—THE END—I had enough material for two books; one set in Edo Japan and the other in the future. And the five-book series became six.

Last week, my daughter gave me notes on my final draft—yes, I was still seeking crits till the last minute—and she raised the idea of “a beautiful accident”. Immediately, I was enchanted by the phrase which is applied in science and nature.

The discovery of antibiotics was said to be a “beautiful accident”. As Professor Fleming headed off on vacation, he was in such a rush he left several petri dishes out to rot in his lab. On his return, he noticed a green mould on one of the dishes killing the bacteria.

The ruins of Pompeii were only discovered in 1710 when a peasant digging a well came across some marble bits.

In 1905, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson left a sugary drink out on his porch overnight with a stirring stick in it, resulting in the world’s first popsicle.

Even the Rolling Stones was a “beautiful accident”. Keith Richards, electric guitar case over his shoulder, was on his way to art college when he struck up a conversation on a railway platform with Mick Jagger, who was heading to the London School of Economics! (Seriously! Mick—a banker?!!)

When I think about it, my series arose out of events that appeared, at first, to be disappointments.

After writing the first draft of Secrets of the Nile, book one, I got chatting to my physiotherapist’s receptionist who knew someone at Allen & Unwin. I got my work in front of an editor at the publishing company. The woman read the first three chapters and messaged that she loved my main character’s voice. My hopes went into orbit. But, two weeks later she rejected the book. It seemed like a huge blow at the time.

But was it, really…?

If she had signed me up, would the book covers have been as good as Holly Dunn’s wonderful designs? Doubtful. Would the series editor assigned to me have loved my characters as much as Sarah Beaudette, my editor of choice? Possibly not.

I question whether a traditional publishing house would have allowed me 12 years to finish the books—for the ideas to simmer and reduce to become the richest story stock I could cook up.

I sent queries to 117 agents—none asked for more pages. And 70 publishers—I got requests for the full manuscript from three and a contract from one. But if I had signed with them, I would only be releasing Secrets of the Nile this month, with one new book coming out each year for the next five years!

I stepped happily (if nervously) into the role of indie author, assembling my team of editors/proofreaders/beta-readers/ARC readers, making my own decisions about cover art, character development, plot twists, book marketing. And I set the dates for a fast and furious release schedule.

I didn’t plan it like this. I never imagined it would go this way.

But, here I am, a published author with a six-book series I love. 

I’ve fulfilled a life’s dream.

And that is most definitely a beautiful accident.