Bleak drive across moors led writer to bright future
Dorothy Koomson’s first two books sold fewer than 5,000 copies in the UK. When her third novel, My Best Friend’s Girl, was chosen as the Richard and Judy summer read in 2006, it sold 545,000 copies.
Crime writer Simon Kernick’s books were shifting around 250 copies a week, but when Relentless was selected for the TV book club in 2008 his average weekly sale rocketed to around 9,000.
Julian Barnes’ Arthur and George was expected to sell around 20,000 copies, but after being recommended sold 300,000.
A Cold Season, published by Jo Fletcher Books, priced £7.99, is out now. Alison will give a reading at Waterstones in Leeds, tonight, from 7pm.