Imagine starting to write a book in 1987. Finishing it in 1995. Having interest from publishers, but not getting a bite. Imagine it sitting on various hard drives until more than 20 years later, you open the file, rewrite it from top to bottom, and start looking for independent publishers who might consider it.
Then, in the midst of a Twitter discussion on writing in 2017, imagine an independent publisher tweets a reply to you: “Why haven’t you sent me a manuscript?”
And a few weeks later, your book is accepted.
That’s how The Keeper of the Stones found a home, and it’s now due out in March 2020 from Hayloft Books.
I’m proud that it’s essentially the work of three women: me as the author, Dawn Robertson as the publisher, and the amazing Kelsea Rothaus as the illustrator. (And despite being an American in her twenties, Kelsea somehow captures the magical, dark edge in the story that to me is straight from the heritage of English and European fairy tales, from the Brothers Grimm to Alan Garner, elevating the book with her illustrations.)
I’ve had a lot of help along the way, notably from my first writer’s group which consisted of published and unpublished children’s authors and from membership of the SCBWI.
Even with some short stories published, it’s an incredible thing to have my first book published at the age of 59. My first in several ways: first novel, first children’s novel, first novel I wrote – I’ve written a few and and am on the first draft of my third, contemporary adult fiction in that case, yet to be published …
There’s a sequel in the offing for The Keeper of the Stones and I’m hoping this time it won’t take thirty years.
(c) Roz Kay
You can order The Keeper of the Stones here
Roz Kay 
Hi Roz.
I’ve just read your tale of how your book came to be published and for the most part I kept shouting SNAP!
My novel DANNU’S MAN was conceived in the late eighties and, after several years of being stonewalled by agents and publishers, sat in a box on a 3.5ins floppy disc for over twenty years before someone pointed out to me than it was now possible to self publish via the internet. Several rewrites and some attempted mastering of tech ensued before it was finally launched on Amazon for Kindle eighteen months ago. (Some decent reviews too!)
I am quite envious of your novel being picked up by a publisher (green whilst I type this!) The gods clearly smile on you. But well done.
This isn’t a plug for my novel, just a missive of congratulations to someone who I consider a bit of a kindred spirit. You see, the main character of DANNU’S MAN gets shot back to the late Neolithic period of southern England and part of my story happens in the Avebury stone circle. I had visited the Henge Shop last summer and they expressed an interest of promoting my book and that’s when, I a long winded way via their web site, I came to you.
Oh yes. No worries about getting yourself published late. I’m a spritely 61 and There’s plenty of (literal) action and adventure left in me yet.
Best wishes
Terry Dunn
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Hi Terry,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your comment – and wow, what a close connection in stories! We all keep at it because we can’t stop, I think, and I do feel incredibly lucky to have finally found a publisher who loves my book. Better late than never, I say. Thank you again. Roz
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