authonomy success story: Simon Kearns

It is with great pleasure that we introduce a guest blog from yet another authonomist turned published author: Simon Kearns

In March 2009, I posted a novel on authonomy. Thanks to the suggestion of a fellow authonomite, Sulci, (whose own book, A, B & E - by Marc Nash, is also available) I submitted my book to Revenge Ink. After some suggestions, and a few minor rewrites, we signed a deal.

The book was released on the 11th September 2010. A political date for a very political book...

Virtual Assassin is a tense thriller with powerful political and moral implications. It tracks the story of successful young graphic designer, Lee Coller, sickened with the Iraq war and the no-regrets position of Tony Blair. When he hears a VIP is about to visit his office, he obsesses it might be Blair and chalks out a plan of revenge. But will Blair visit after all? And will Lee do the unthinkable? Can one act of violence make up for so many others?

When I first joined authonomy, I was thrilled to find people willing to read my work and offer useful criticism. I’m sure a great number of authonomites can relate to this; after years of isolation and hard work, to find oneself in the midst of so many like-minded people is a great relief. Of course, a certain amount of feedback is, unfortunately, self-servingly sugarcoated, but I soon learned how to use the site to get the best from it. Simply, find authors whose work you like, engage with them, offer your thoughts and, hopefully, you will get the same in return. This is what I did and as a result I am now published. Furthermore, I have made a number of new friends, and what’s essential to me, these are writers whose work I rate, people whose advice I am happy to accept. This is how we become better writers.

I would like to thank the authonomy team for the valuable resource, and source of fun, that is their site. Long may it continue to offer writers, and readers, a chance to interact.

Simon Kearns