I remember an email I received from an agent after submitting The Charm several years ago. It was a rejection email and said these exact words:
Malorie Blackman wrote 9 books and was submitting for 2 and a half years (and got 82 rejections) before her first book deal... and then she became Children’s Laureate - so do persevere!
Those words of encouragement stick in mind and always will. I know it's hard to get that book deal but I will try as hard as I can to get one! In the meantime here is the 250-word pitch I wrote for The Towpath. I do hope you enjoy it.
It’s the end of May 1953. A relentless heatwave has
burned the country to a crisp and the whole nation is at fever pitch as it
prepares to crown its’ beautiful new Queen. Streets are scrubbed spotless. Red,
white and blue bunting is strung from every lamppost. And thousands upon
thousands of kitchens have produced thousands upon thousands of cakes as the
countdown begins to a magical day full of pomp, pageantry and patriotism, the
likes of which this post-war kingdom has never seen before.
Barbara Songhurst and Christine Reed, two
young friends from Teddington, have planned the weekend leading up to the big
day with military precision. Christine is preparing to battle through the crowds just so she can
see the dashingly handsome Prince Phillip with her very own eyes. And Barbara
has bought a yellow and white floral bathing suit from the West End which will
hopefully clinch her the title of Beauty Pageant Queen 1953.
Just a few streets away lives Alfred Whiteway. He despises the Royal Family and he despises the Queen and everything
she stands for. The only plans he has for the 2nd of June are to get completely
rat-arsed and fuck a prostitute. Maybe two. With a penchant for knives and a
reputation locally as a lunatic who swings from tree to tree like an ape, Alfie
is the kind of man best avoided.
But on the 31st of May, two days before
Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II, Barbara and Christine's paths
crossed with Alfred Whiteway's.
It was totally unavoidable. And it cost them
both their lives.
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