Whitbread winner a multiple rejectee

This is a neat story to start the day: Rejected author has last laugh. I’m a fan of rejected anythings getting a leg up, so it was doubly nice to read about a 20-times rejected author (by all the majors) getting her day in the sun.

Birmingham writer Catherine O’Flynn has won Costa’s First Novel award (formerly the Whitbread) with her book, What Was Lost. The above article, from the Times Online, lists a surprising number of big-name authors who faced years of rejection before finding success. They include HG Wells, Beatrix Potter, and JK Rowling.

The article also mentions a guy called David Lassman, a much-rejected writer who, in frustration, submitted the opening chapters of Jane Austen books to publishers, changing only the character names, to see what would happen. One in 18 publishers and agents recognised Austen’s work. How awesomely weird.

So, What Was Lostshould be huge. I’m going to check out Lassman’s work, though. I’ll get back to you.