How long did it take to write A Murder for Miss Hortense?

Hourglass

After Nelle, my agent, took me on she asked when I thought the book would be ready.  Listening to other authors I know that this is a tricky question to answer.  For some it’s a few months, for others it’s years, sometimes even a decade or more!  I remember saying six months.  A figure plucked out of the air, but not too long that Nelle might reconsider her representation of me, not so short that I wouldn’t be able to achieve the deadline (given I’d never written a book before). In truth I had no idea how long it would take…..  

But deadlines are generally good for me.  The fear of what could be lost, the adrenaline of having to reach the finish line, the necessity of getting over my perfectionism.  

One month later,  I went back with 60 pages.   I remember not enjoying reading them back to myself but thought maybe my agent would see something in them that I couldn’t.  Alas a meeting was set up.  Cards on the table.  Nelle was very encouraging but told me I was trying to do too much, that I was rushing.  I was.  I needed to focus on what story I was trying to tell (not all of them at once!) 

I did some reflecting.  I committed to the story I wanted to tell, said goodbye to other stories (maybe there would be an opportunity to revisit them again later or in another book). I thought about my protagonist, Miss Hortense.  What was the thing that was haunting her, how was that impacting her.  I resubmitted another 60 pages to Nelle four months later.  I loved reading them aloud to myself.

Nelle was so encouraging and enthusiastic and confirmed, yes that was it!  That I’d found my voice.  It was immense. Another magical moment.  I was on track.  Then Nelle asked when I would get the rest of the book to her…. 

In January 2023, nearly 12 months after Nelle had initially asked me the question of how long it would take to send the first draft to her, I had a first draft. The first time the book actually hung together from beginning to end. Another milestone moment.  It had taken something to get there.  Moments where I’d had to dig deep, moments which I hadn’t spent with my family.  Early morning risings – around five thirty am (a sunshine clock helps greatly with that).  Weekends.  Football games sat with my manuscript in my hand rather than watching the game.   I had to dig deeper perhaps then I have ever dug before in my writing career.

In January 2023, after I submitted the very first full rough draft to my agent, I remember trying to war game the next part.  I listed all of the possible outcomes -  from my agent would hate the draft, stop representing me and suggest I give up writing completely to being told it was the best thing since sliced bread and it would be in bookshops the next day.  In fact the outcome was none of the above, but just more work to do - another draft, more refining, more words and continued commitment to dig deeper and do what needed to be done, to make the book the best version of itself.  This is the commitment needed to write a book.

Then some progress, decisions re titles, input into a synopsis and pitch. There was more back and forth.  

Then an email that I read about a thousand times.  The title from my agent, simply said,  “Miss Hortense is ready…”