Less of a newsletter - more an amazing announcement
I want you all to be the first to know my good news
Hello and welcome to Making Crime Pay! I’m Nicki Thornton - I’m an author. I share my creative journey here and what I am learning along the way. I pass on my love of books by sharing what I am reading and review them so you can enjoy them too. I visit schools and other places to encourage a love of reading and help writing be more fun!
My latest novel is The Floating Witch Mystery, about three determined children, an eccentric witch and the world’s best magical detective who will stop at nothing to save everything they love. If you would like to hear me read the opening chapter you can head here.
I love my Substack community. If you want to get these notes regularly, just hit subscribe. Thank you for being part of it. Thanks to everyone who is reading this and everyone who kindly supports me and my writing.
Nicki
An exciting new chapter for me
I can hardly believed I get to say this . . . I am so excited to reveal I am now represented by the awesome Kate Shaw, founder and director of The Shaw Agency.
I am thrilled beyond belief and it is only just sinking in that I get to work with Kate, who represents amazing authors. I cannot wait to bring lots of new stories to you with Kate.
A real pinch-me moment
One of the things I enjoy doing on Substack is to tell you a little about the writing journey. Believe me when I say I have realised one of the major parts of the jigsaw - that can make the difference between a long-term career and one that never seems to come alight - is your agent.
Kate has a brilliant reputation - just go and look at what people say about her.
And I'll be joining an agency with authors who are some of the ones I admire the most.
I'm already inspired and motivated with ideas, and I am newly excited by what lies ahead. So I'd better be getting back to the writing!
A key step on my writing journey
Writing can be a tough old business. Anyone who keeps writing over the long term usually has a strong home team around them: the family and friends, fellow authors and colleagues who work with you to bash the book into shape (sorry, realise your creative vision!), the booksellers who place it into readers hands and those readers who you really connect with and love what you've done.
It can feel like a rollercoaster, times when you can feel you are moving only slowly and not even sure you are getting anywhere. And there are moments of exhilaration - and those are also the best ones to share with that home team.
I feel Kate will both challenge and help me become the best version of myself, and do the same for my writing.
Thank you for sharing and celebrating this moment with me.
Nicki
I hope it leads to future success for you