Off-the-Shelf Books: Hidden by Emma Kavanagh

I am delighted to be today's stop on the BLOG TOUR for Emma Kavanagh's second psychological thriller Hidden, which is being published on 23 April 2015 by Century.

I would like to welcome Emma Kavanagh, who tells us what it's like being a published author.

After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, Emma Kavanagh spent seven years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel, throughout the UK and Europe, to deal with the most extreme situations. An expert in her field, she now applies her knowledge to her writing: creating realistic and incredibly tense stories.

Over to Emma...

Being Published: Life Beyond the Book Deal

I have been doing this for a couple of years now. Hidden is my second published book and I have just signed my second two-book deal with Arrow. One of the things that is becoming abundantly clear is that the vast majority of people have absolutely no clue what my job entails. None. NONE!

People seem to be fairly evenly split between those who think that I trot out a book in a 20-minute sit-down and get paid millions for the privilege, and those who think that I work harder than the builders of the pyramids and get paid nothing (or even, get to pay to do it!).

Yeah.

No.

I work pretty hard, although not pyramid-building hard. And in truth, the vast majority of my life is spent sitting, laptop on my knee, typing. There are other commitments that being published brings - things like writing for this lovely blog, for example! And these can often provide a nice little diversion from my life within my own head.

I don't get paid millions. Sigh. I don't pay for my book to be published. (What??)

I have a job. And like most other jobs, there are things that I must do and time parameters in which they must be done. I have a deadline for submission for book 3 (it's fine - it's AGES away!). Before that rolls about, I have to finish it, edit it myself until I am happy that it's as good as I alone can possibly make it, whilst still doing all of the other tasks that fall to a published author. I go on Twitter - a lot. This began as a way to get my name known but has become a lifeline. Writing can be a very solitary business and social media has allowed me to get to know a huge bunch of writers and to come to consider them friends.

Occasionally I am allowed out of the house (not often) on research trips, to London for meetings with my agents and my publishers, and, when publication time rolls around, to do events. I LOVE these. And not just because I spend 11 months of the year staring at the same four walls. I get to talk to people and sometimes have drinks!

As a writer seeking a publishing deal, it seems like the holy grail. That, once this is achieved, life will take on a beautifully rosy glow and all manner of things will be well. Now, don't get me wrong, it's awesome. AWESOME! However, there is still terror. Publication day is deeply exciting and simultaneously deeply traumatic. What if everyone hates it? What if no-one hates it because no-one reads it? Why do I have baby sick in my hair in my author photo? See? Trauma! Some people will tell you they adore your book and you will feel a little like an imposter, because it can't be you who has written this book they love. Some will tell you they hated it. And then you will cry.

It's not a job for the faint of heart. It is, however, a job that I have dreamt of my whole life and one that I wouldn't swap for anything!

Hidden by Emma Kavanagh,

published by Century, hardback at £12.99