As posted on Authonomy today

Writing a novel was the easy bit. It was finding a publisher that nearly sent me off the rails….

Winning the Debut Dagger in 2005 was a watershed moment for me. Until then I had thought of writing as a hobby – I’d self-published my first novel (The James Version) but was still working as a Probation Officer. The Dagger gave me the confidence to resign and dedicate myself to writing full-time.

The day after the Dagger awards I signed with a top agent and the novel was going to be submitted to six major publishing houses. I thought I had made it…

But that would have been just too easy. The Woman Before Me didn’t get picked up by the major publishers. They worried that it was ‘not commercial enough’, and that it didn’t fit neatly enough into the ‘crime novel’ box. It went into the bottom drawer and I started to write my third novel, The Sacrificial Man (still posted on the site).

I joined authonomy when it first began, and receiving feedback from fellow authonomites gave me the confidence to keep going. Having my novels posted on the site has helped me develop as a writer and I made several friendships that extended beyond the forums.

A few of the writers on the site were already with Legend press and last summer one of them posted a thread about the upcoming Luke Bitmead Bursary. It seemed perfect for The Woman Before Me. The bursary aims to promote and publish a new writer each year, and was set up in memory of Luke Bitmead, a talented writer who sadly committed suicide.

I won the award last October. I cried through much of the ceremony, knowing that I would finally see my novel in print. (The second place winner and two runners-up are also authonomites.) A few days later I signed a publishing deal with Solidus Press for The Sacrificial Man.

So, after waiting nearly five years, I finally achieved my goal.

To be a writer you have to be tenacious and dogged – having a strong support network helps. If I had one piece of advice it would be this: don’t give up. You never know just how close you are to succeeding.

The Woman Before Me is now in print. It is a psychological thriller set in coastal Suffolk. It is about Rose Wilks, whose life is shattered when her newborn baby Luke is admitted to intensive care. Alongside her in hospital is Emma, who has just given birth to Joel and the two women become friends. Joel dies and Luke is thriving – then tragedy strikes and Rose is the only suspect.
The novel starts with Rose having spent five years behind bars. She is just weeks away from release if she can convince probation officer Cate Austin to recommend parole.
As Cate is drawn into Rose’s story she begins to question everything she thought she knew about justice, love and obsession.

Good luck to all of you in getting that elusive publishing deal!

Best wishes,

Ruth

Book Launch

Here I am with my mum, dad and daughter Amber.

This all came about as a result of my winning the Luke Bitmead Bursary last year. I would urge any unpublished author to enter this wonderful competition, which closes on 31st August. So get those entries polished & e-mail them over to Legend Press. The winner will get a publishing contract with Legend Press and £2,500.

What have you got to lose?

Luke Bitmead Bursary

FROM LEGEND PRESS:

Submissions are now open for the 2010 Luke Bitmead Writer’s Bursary. The award
was set up shortly after Luke’s death in 2006 by his family to support and
encourage the work of fledgling novel writers, with the top prize being a publishing
contract with Legend Press, as well as a cheque for £2500.
We are pleased to be continuing this brilliant bursary for a third year, and hope to
follow in the success of 2008 winner Andrew Blackman, who published his debut
novel On the Holloway Road in February 2009, and last years winner Ruth Dugdall
who publishes her hotly anticipated novel The Woman Before Me in July 2010. The
deadline for submissions is 31st August 2010, with the winner announced in
the week of 27th October 2010. For further details visit:
http://forward.legendpress.co.uk/mainsite/luke-bitmead-bursary.html

The Woman Before Me by Ruth Dugdall (Legend Press, 21st August)
Rose Wilks’ life is shattered when her newborn baby Joel is admitted to
intensive care. Alongside her is Emma Hatcher, who’s just given birth to Luke.
Joel dies and Luke is thriving, until tragedy strikes and Rose is the only suspect.
Told through a series of letters from Rose’s prison cell, her probation officer
Cate must decide whether Rose is remorseful for Luke’s death, or whether she
remains a threat to society. Can justice can be served, and if so… by what
means?

I won!

Or should that be:

ohmygodicantbelieveitsomeonepinchmecosthemostamazingthinghappenedandiwon!

I feel very honoured to be chosen as the second winner of the Luke Bitmead bursary.
Last night was simply wonderful - the atmosphere at the event was warm and friendly, and before the announcement we all chatted and got to know each other. I spoke with finalists Garlen Lo & Catherine Scott, both of whom had great sounding novels, and then got to meet Elaine & Tiffany, Luke`s mother & sister.
Luke tragically died in 2006, aged just 34, and his family established the bursary to ensure that Luke`s name & memory lives on. The bursary was set up to encourage & support the work of struggling talented writers.
Possessing the strength and optimism to turn such a sad loss into a positive venture is a very special thing, and Elaine is obviously an emotionally courageous woman.

When the winners were announced, I just burst into tears. I couldn`t help it - the whole event just felt so charged with feeling, and of course I am grateful that the judging panel liked my book. The Woman before Me will be published by Legend press in summer 2010!

Andrew Blackman, last years winner with his novel On the Holloway Road, gave a heartfelt speech about how, though he had not met Luke, he is a apart of his life because of the bursary.

I also enjoyed chatting to Legend press, Tom Chalmers & Lucy Boguslowski, and to writers Zoe Jenny & Sam Mills.
Such an inspiring group of people, such a special event.
I feel very blessed.
x

Luke Bitmead Bursary

Yey! Good news today!

I just heard I`ve been shortlisted for the Luke Bitmead bursary, organsied by his mum & sister, and Legend Press.

The winner gets a publishing deal with Legend press and £2,500.

Last year`s winner was Andrew Blackman, with his novel On the Holloway Road, and he seems to have gone from strength to strength after winning.

I entered my novel The Woman before Me, and just to be shortlisted is a real boost.

An antidote to all those days (weeks, months) when we doubt out ability/sanity and wonder if it`s really worth it...

Because of course it is!

Keep the faith. Keep writing.