Tamsin Cooke

The most wonderful agent Anne Clark from the Anne Clark literary agency found me in the slush pile! I‘d sent her my first three chapters and synopsis before going away on holiday. Every few days I would go to the one main room in the hotel where there was Wi-Fi so I could download my emails. One amazing morning, I could not believe my eyes. Anne Clark had written, asking me to send her the whole manuscript. I leapt into the air, squealed and danced around the room, much to the bemusement of the other hoteliers.

Then I sent her the rest of Cat Burglar and she asked if we could meet up in London. That meeting was undoubtedly one of the best days of my life. She signed me up there and then, and has held my hand throughout the whole publishing process.

As it took me 12 years to get published, I would say that every time I sent off a new story was a daunting prospect. Would this be the one? I received an awful lot of rejections, but I was lucky. Often they came with some feedback. So, after I wiped away my tears from yet another no, I digested what the editors said and incorporated their guidance into my next book. I didn’t go on a course and I hadn’t joined any writing groups, so this advice was invaluable. With each story, I felt like I was getting a little bit closer and I refused to give up.

At a school visit, a year five girl said, ‘Stunt Double is the best book I’ve ever read. I’ve not read it yet, but I know it will be.’

This made me smile so much. Then a couple of weeks later, I received an email via my website. She wrote, ‘I knew it. Stunt Double is the best book I’ve ever read. I’m going to be a stunt double and an author when I grow up.’

This happened on my very first school visit. Even though I used to be a primary school teacher, I was still feeling incredibly nervous. I’d just arrived at the school when this year 6 boy approached me with a look of awe on his face.

‘Are you Tamsin Cooke? Are you the author?’ he asked.

‘Yes I am.’ His eyes widened even more.

‘Do you – do you sign autographs?’

I stared at him for a second, not quite believing my ears. I was a celebrity. I flicked back my hair, suddenly feeling ten feet tall. ‘Why yes of course. Would you like one?’

No!’ he said, throwing me a look of absolute disgust.

I deflated instantly. So much for my A-list stardom!!!

I think the biggest piece of advice I can give anyone is don’t give up! No one else can tell your story as well as you can. It’s so easy to listen to external or internal voices telling you you’re not good enough. Well ignore them and keep going. Also if you can join a writing group or go on a course, I recommend it. I would have learnt some basic skills far quicker instead of muddling along.