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Journalist's first novel hits shelves after 11-year bid for publishing deal

A former Western Mail journalist is celebrating after finally seeing her first novel on bookshelves – 11 years after her initial attempt to get a publishing deal.

Jane Bidder, who began her career in Cardiff and is now a freelance journalist, this week published The School Run, under her pen name Sophie King.

Last year she won a two-book deal with Hodder, but not before she had spent years trying unsuccessfully to get 11 previous works of fiction into print.

Jane said: “I only became a journalist because I wanted to write a novel!

“It feels extremely unreal. At times I thought I was sad to keep going, but I still had all these stories in my head.”

During her search for a book deal Jane, who has previously had non-fiction books published under her own name, enlisted the help of various agents, and even had one book turned down by an interested publisher because her heroine had the same occupation as another novel they had just commissioned.

But Jane did not give up, and continued to combine her work towards becoming a published fiction author with working as a freelance journalist for newspapers and magazines – as well as looking after three children.

And when her youngest son moved to a new school further away from home, Jane got the inspiration for her new book – while on the school run.

Featuring seven families doing the same school run, the book looks at how they all share the start of the day – pandemonium with grumpy children looking for sports kit, uniform and homework and frazzled parents trying to get them to school on time – and how this connects them all.

Jane said: “My youngest had just changed schools and I found that the school run was enforced talking time, like a moving confessional.

“We listened to the radio and I introduced him to Terry Wogan and he introduced me to bands I had never heard of like Green Day.

“What interests me is how different people can be doing different things at the same time, and how this can influence what happens to others down the line.”

The School Run is now available to buy in paperback priced £6.99. ISBN: 0340838361.

  • During her bid to get a novel published, Jane was given help and advice from The Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Cornerstones Literary Agency.