Many people during lock down learned a new trade, or tried a new hobby. For me it was chance to continue writing. I

I have already written and self published 17 books, a 10 book sci fi series which has an off shoot and 6 modern thrillers. Like many authors I dreamed that one day I would get a book deal, taken on by a traditional publishing house and become a full time writer. I had a short deal with a small publisher in the US but we parted ways as it wasn’t a good fit for either of us. During lock down I saw an ad on Facebook for a publishing house located in the US so I did some research and eventually submitted the first book in my sci fi series to them. Time went by and I put it out of my mind, I know these things take time. I received emails from them, purely marketing but thought nothing of it and then I thought I’d contact them and ask about my submission. They apologised for the delay which they didn’t have to really, they are, after all a busy company. I later got two more emails, one congratulating me and the other another apology for the delay.

The congratulations came with a deal that incorporated not just the first book, the one I had submitted but for the entire series. I had landed a ten book deal with interest in the 6 other books under my pen name of jack Dillon.

The company is Red Penguin Books and they want me as one of the first authors to be published on their new imprint, the Global Edit which is for international authors who they are going to introduce to the US market. In the initial Zoom meeting with my new editor, Kathleen Larkin, a wonderful young woman full of energy she said something to me that made me choke up a little with emotion. She said that although I had sent only the Prologue and first chapter, I had her on the first page. That is something every author dreams of hearing off an editor and I was lucky enough to be one of the few who have.

We are working towards a fast release schedule, Ronin, the first book hopefully will see a December release with the others following ever three months after.

At the age of 65 it seems I have put the first step on the ladder to make myself a full time writer, truly a dream come true.

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