Mark Smith's Blog: The Road To Winter

I've likened getting your first novel published to being invited inside a club you've been standing outside (in the rain) for years. Suddenly the door opens and you are part of a whole new group, published authors. The first change you have to get used to is calling yourself an author, as opposed to a writer. This probably sounds a bit naff but when you've wanted to attach that title to yourself for as long as you can remember, it's kinda nice.

Having been to lots of book launches, writers' festivals, in conversations and author events, there's also the buzz of being out front instead of in the audience. What could be better than a room full of people wanting to talk to you about your book? This is the truly surreal part of the whole experience. I'm lucky in that I'm mates with a few other writers who are at the same stage in their careers. We all support each other and understand the beatific smiles on each others faces without asking for explanations. We're like kids in a candy shop - just so ridiculously happy to be there and wide-eyed at the possibilities.

The other part of the experience that gets less attention is the pressure to continue producing good writing. The sequel to The Road To Winter is due out in May 2017 - meaning the manuscript has to be delivered to the publisher by the end of September. So, the day after your launch, your festival appearance or your radio interview, you go home, sit down and get back to work. There's no-one there applauding, asking you to sign their copy of your book or launching into a detailed conversation about their favourite characters - there's just you, the computer, your unseen manuscript and a shipload of coffee.