I make my own luck

It's one of the subjects that comes up a lot in conversation between writers and I always allow myself to get sucked in to the debate.

I've been called lucky. On the face of it you might think that's a reasonable allegation. After all, I've had four books published, sold a further three and due to recent events it looks like I've been talked into writing #8 for a particular publisher. Lucky, right?

Wrong.

'Luck' suggests some kind of random alignment of the stars, which is complete bullshit. It negates all the work I put in to writing the books that earned me the attention of certain editors. These days I have editors approaching me rather than the other way round, but look at it this way -- I would not have earned their attention if I hadn't pushed through to writing 'The End' of Long Time Coming, Plus One and By the Book. That was the point of my career when I started coming to certain people's attention. After I'd already had three books published.

Putting my publication success down to luck is an insult to the time I put in writing my manuscripts and composing the submission packages (queries and synopses).

My books do not write themselves and publishers do not decide which books to publish with the use of a roulette wheel.

I've also been called lucky for being such a gifted writer. A compliment, again, you might think. I definitely do not take it that way. I wasn't sprinkled with fairy dust at birth. No giant celestial finger pointed from Heaven and bestowed upon me a perfect talent for creative writing. I wasn't born writing the way I do. I bloody well worked for it. Any talent I have is not a gift -- it's a damn reward.

It's also been suggested to me that I'm lucky to be writing erotic romance at a time when it's popular.

Um...no. I choose to write erotic romance (although not for much longer, I grant you). There is no luck involved here -- it's my choice. Free will.

Oh, I'm so lucky to have editors approaching me, aren't I? It's got nothing to do with the fact my work is out there, available to all. Nothing to do with people wanting me to write more of X, Y or Z based on my track record.

You know, it's funny. The harder I work, the luckier I get. The more work I put in, the better my writing gets and the more people notice me and, I'm glad, tell me they like what I do.

Was it chance that my first manuscript landed in the inbox of an editor who offered a publication contract? Did I merely catch her on a good day? Good God no; I caught her with a good book. Luck had nothing to do with it.

I wasn't lucky. I was ready.