Seven things people say to new authors

Seven things people have said to me since The Lady Soldier was published:

1. 'You mean you've had a novel published? No I don't believe it! You're having me on!'
2. 'Don't worry, that J K Rowling woman was unknown when she started and now she's sold millions. It's just a case of advertising. You know, at train stations.'
3. 'Kate, your book is simply marvellous. Not that I have actually read it of course. Not my thing.'
4. 'You must post a copy to the BBC so they can turn it into TV. Someone we know must know someone at the BBC.'
5. 'You're still working? Gosh. Isn't your novel out yet?'*
6. 'How can have you have possibly got published without an agent? Oh, I guess you went with one of these vanity presses and paid for them to publish your book?'**
7. 'Don't worry about bad reviews. The main thing is that it was published. Not whether or not it's a good book. You can make your next one a good book.'

* Common misunderstanding about the economics of writing novels
** No, I don't have an agent. And no, my publishers are bona fide proper publishers. They pay me, not the other way around.

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