Former postal worker/long rejected novelist Catherine O'Flynn (37 years old of Birmingham, England) won the First Novel Prize at the prestigious Costa Book Awards, once known as the Whitbread Prize. Apparently the novel, entitled What Was Lost, struck Costa judges as an extraordinary book, "blending humor and pathos." However, according to the TimesOnline, at least 20 agents had formerly rejected O'Flynn with different phrases indicating "that her book was not one for them.” Sound familiar? So, see, there's hope for us, all my little rejected friends. As they said a long, long time ago, before you were even born: keep on truckin'.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Gives New Meaning to Going Postal
Former postal worker/long rejected novelist Catherine O'Flynn (37 years old of Birmingham, England) won the First Novel Prize at the prestigious Costa Book Awards, once known as the Whitbread Prize. Apparently the novel, entitled What Was Lost, struck Costa judges as an extraordinary book, "blending humor and pathos." However, according to the TimesOnline, at least 20 agents had formerly rejected O'Flynn with different phrases indicating "that her book was not one for them.” Sound familiar? So, see, there's hope for us, all my little rejected friends. As they said a long, long time ago, before you were even born: keep on truckin'.
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4 comments:
What's pathetic is how many of those same agents and editors will JUMP to get her stuff now. They need prize judges to tell them what's good.
Great story, but where does it say she's a postal worker? In the article you link to it says she's a "box-office assistant" which to me indicates she works in a theatre (as in plays). Not that this really affects anything about the story, except maybe the title of your blog entry?
She's a former postwoman, according to the Telegraph and other sources. She's apparently had many jobs, as have we all.
I have an agent friend who knew both an acquisitions editor who passed on and one who picked up Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants (Gruen has apparently just been offered somewhere around a two or three book, five million deal). Can you imagine the staff meetings in that first editor's office?
STAFF MEMBER: So, ummm...things are looking good on that new mass market deal...
EDITOR [slams head on table]: SOBBBBBBBBBB!!!!!!!!!!!
:)
A.W.
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