Lyn Gardner, the Guardian's theatre critic, has just published her first novel, Into the Woods. Aimed at eight-12-year-olds, it's a whirlwind adventure story inspired by fairytales and told by three sisters who are left to fend for themselves in a decaying mansion on the edge of the wilds. In the first of a series of blogs on the experience of being a first-time author, she describes the strange silence that greets the birth of a book.
It is two weeks since my first novel, Into the Woods (David Fickling Books) crept quietly out into the world to a resounding silence. There were no fireworks, no glittering launch party, and no column inches celebrating its arrival. It feels a bit like having been pregnant for a monstrously long time only to discover that nobody takes a blind bit of notice when the baby finally arrives. It's when you announce the pregnancy or, rather, sell your book that the congratulations and the champagne flow. Eighteen months on, all interest has evaporated.
To be truthful I was prepared. My agent had mournfully informed me that I must be realistic, although she was unspecific about exactly what it was I should be realistic about. The fact that several members of my family have not yet rung to congratulate me? Selling lots of copies? Selling any copies at all? In fact I am so realistic that I depress myself. I know that I am not young enough, pretty enough or well enough connected to attract media attention. What's more, Into the Woods isn't a roman a clef or a chick lit bonk-buster. It is a novel for children. When you tell people that you've just had a novel published they beam "congratulations." When you inform them that it's for 8-12 year olds their eyes glaze over and they say brightly: "So you're the next JK Rowling." Probably not, as I have no desire to write a seven novel series or ever holiday in the Hamptons.
Obviously it would be gratifying to be able to afford an egg to go with my tea, and of course I long for my baby to do well. Like any proud new parent you quickly move from being relieved that the child has a full set of fingers and toes to wanting your offspring to be an amazing tap dancer or sail around the world single-handedly. It's the same with a novel. I couldn't believe my luck when somebody wanted to publish it. Now I want it to top the bestseller lists. The question is how to go about it?
Complete strangers are full of good advice. "Of course what you need to do," they all say sagely, "is to get on Richard and Judy." The book's publicist rings and announces that she may be able to get me a school visit in Devises in November. It feels like a start. A realistic one.
Amazon ranking: 47,506. Number of unnecessary visits to local bookshop to check on display: four . Pages of new novel written: 27. Appearances on Richard and Judy: 0
