It is with such great joy that I share this wonderful story about one of our Art of Writing writers. Who said you are too old to write? Who was that wet blanket who claimed you can’t live your dreams, pursue your goals, and watch them come to fruition at a certain age? Betty Cody is an inspiration to all of us. I am forbidden to mention Betty’s age, but Betty has just published her first book. The Brightest Star is a testament to Betty’s formidable energy and drive. Her book proves it’s never, ever too late to do what you want to do. With her wonderful candour and positive energy, Betty Cody, and I talk about publishing her first book.
Lisa: Over covid, you wrote a book! And this was your first foray into writing longer text. Had you ever written long-form before?
Betty: I’ve never written a full book! Over the past 20 years, I dabbled with a novel about a golfer but it morphed into what sat better with me – a golf psychology instruction book. My work in Ireland in that field made me consider a book. I also wrote about 25,000 words of a children’s book when I was babysitting the grandchildren. These two book chapters gave me one advantage. I could attend writing courses and have something to show as a work-in-progress.
I attended two creative writing courses. One in Ireland and one in Florence with you in June 2018 where I was inspired by both the breadth of knowledge of the presenters in Florence, and thereafter by Lisa’s weekly inspirational words on Facebook. I also wrote a radio play for our Irish national radio and was shortlisted in an annual competition. However, as with all the things I wrote, I just left them and rarely came back to bring them to any conclusion.
Lisa: You are more than sixty-five years old (I am under strict instructions not to reveal Betty’s age). So really, this is such an accomplishment. Was this story something that had always been inside you or did it come to you when you sat down during isolation?
Betty: Well, I am rather a latecomer to finishing a book! Due to the death of my father, when I was twelve years old and my younger siblings were just one and three, I left school at fifteen and worked in the office of a family business. I moved from that to marriage and rearing two children. When they were at school for a ‘full’ day, I began re-living my teenage years. With hard work and the support of my husband, I went to University College Dublin and completed a Psychology degree and continued to a masters and PhD. (I waited until I was 60 to start interrailing around Europe and having fun and that’s even quite a long time ago!) However, it was only because covid hit that I had time and space to sit still and write a full novel, with no grandchildren to mind and no holidays or other fun distractions.
Lisa: Did you ever imagine that you would become a published author?
Betty: I never in my wildest dreams expected to have my book published.
Lisa: What would you say to people who say, ‘it’s too late for me to write a book?’
Betty: I believe that everyone who is over sixty-five probably has more time and accrued wisdom to tackle a subject that is dear to their heart. It does help if they have learned in the past to touch type and obviously to use a computer. Makes for faster work.
Lisa: How many words is The Brightest Star?
Betty: It is 100,000 words approximately. I had seen online that the number of words recommended for a novel is 100,000 words.
Lisa: How long did it take you to write?
Betty: It took about a year to write the entire book.
Lisa: At what stage did you send it off to publishers? Or did you go for an agent first? What publishers did you choose to send your manuscript to, and why did you choose them?
Betty: They are three massive questions! I think the stage when I thought about sending it to ‘someone’ I had got feedback from Art of Writing’s Penny Howard and a friend who was a writer in Ireland, plus my then sixteen-year-old granddaughter.
I looked up agents online in Ireland and toyed with self-publishing as I found that it was difficult to find an agent who was interested in taking on a new writer. In addition, I was fed up with looking at it! I then decided that I’d try one or two ‘reputable’ publishers only.
I sent 20% as requested to two publishers but I was more taken with Poolbeg Publishers who indicated that a full copy could be posted, plus a dongle as a copy. I then left it and got on with having a bit of life as we went in and out of lockdowns in Ireland. Finally, I decided to book another Art of Writing in Florence and contacted you who suggested that an ‘editor’ was probably a very important part of the process.
Now I want to tell those of you who are as ‘novice’ in this process as I was, that I didn’t know what an editor actually did! I had an editor mixed up somewhat with a proofreader! I was in the process of having an editor for my trip to Florence when I had an email from Poolbeg asking me if I would like a three-book contract for an online book and an Amazon paperback! They indicated that it might be of interest to the American-Irish, (Ireland has such a small population). They further indicated that only ‘seasoned’ writers were being put into bookshops by their company during covid. I knew that Poolbeg Publishers were incredibly successful in Ireland. In particular, they have been involved in launching a huge number of top Irish women writers onto the international market. Marian Keyes, the international writer was first published by Poolbeg. I discussed the offer with Lisa, Penny, and Phillipa in Italy and they were all very supportive of my decision to jump at the chance!
Lisa: Are there any tips you can give to our amazing Art of Writing writers on sending off their manuscripts?
Betty: Be wary of online ‘publishers’ who ask for thousands to get your book published, but don’t dismiss it either! Always keep an open mind until you feel comfortable with your final choice. Instead, perhaps people with books ‘ready’ might consider spending their investment money on a good editor who will critically look at your work when you ‘think’ you have finished it!
Lisa: You’ve mentioned that the editing process with your publisher was full-on. Can you tell us more about that?
Betty: It wasn’t only ‘full-on’ but also like experiencing a university degree in The Editing of a Book! I mentioned that the editor was excellent, but it went deeper than that. She basically saved me from me. For example, one of the ‘inaccuracies I had made regarding 1800’s Ireland was placing people regularly in a ‘tea room.’ Her direct ‘that will have to be changed’ lead me to a week of changing the ‘venue’ to an Inn built for opulence by the local squire for his relatives and friends to meet when they were in the town. My editor had no problem also in telling me when a storyline did not ring true and I would then have to take a walk in the air and rethink my strategy for making the specific storyline believable.
Although the first edit took the longest, it was followed by two further edits and then I had to read and reread all the text and keep checking for errors I had made. This lasted up to the book deadline date (and a bit beyond!), but crucially my editor never ever lost patience with me and was just so supportive. My Poolbeg office contact was also wonderful. She worked with me to find a name for the book. I had originally called The Brightest Star ‘Four Green Fields Beneath the Stars - An Irish love story”, but it was too long. In fact, on the very day it was being set by typesetting I had to wrack my brain for a line for the front cover to ‘sell’ the story. They were happy when I came up with ‘Can darkness lead to light and love?”. It was almost a three-month journey with the editor, and I appreciated every moment of that time.
Lisa: Do you think you will write another book?
Betty: Yes! Poolbeg gave me a three-book contract and during the time last summer, before I realised how much I still had to do with the first book, I started a sequel. The Brightest Star ends in 1942 and I’m bringing it through the Irish famine and into happier times again (hopefully).
Lisa: What is the back book blurb?
The Brightest Star by Betty Cody - 155 words
Jack Ryan is one of the few survivors of The Sea Horse which sank off the coast of Tramore in 1816. While walking home to Cork, unable to face up to his trauma, an accident brings him into contact with the Turner family and the serene and lovely Eliza. Eliza’s closeness to Lord Beconsford’s family makes a love match with her an unlikely dream for Jack. He must be content to admire her from afar.
Then Fate takes a hand when Jack’s shrewd granny Sheila, presents him with the means to pursue his dream of becoming a landscape gardener in one of Ireland’s ‘Big Houses’. Can he now dare hope to win Eliza? And mend his broken spirit after the trauma of shipwreck?
A new generation sees Jack’s beloved daughter Margarita blossoming into a gifted singer, while hiding the heartache of unrequited love. She, too, must learn to hope and strive to fulfill her dreams.
Thanks so much, Betty, for all your wisdom and words. You are an inspiration to Art of Writing writers all over the world. We are so proud to have you as Alumni.
Betty shows us one of the most beautiful lessons of all. That at any age and at every stage of your life, you can write and publish your book.
The Brightest Star by Betty Cody is available through Amazon, Fantastic Fiction and Barnes and Noble.
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If you’d like to share any comments or thoughts, I’d be happy to hear from you. Email me directly at lisacliffordwriter@gmail.com.