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"The difficult second novel"

18 May 2015

‘Yet a writer's life is not limited to the dramatic moment of first exposure or the excitement that greets the new work of the well-established. In particular, as suggested by the phrase "the difficult second novel", things can get tough after first publication. If your first book has gone like the clappers, you'll probably be feeling pressure, both self-generated and from expectant publishers; at the same time, especially in these times of burgeoning literary festivals, your schedule may seem to conspire against you ever writing another word. And if your first book has not gone well, as is the fate of many excellent novels in a crowded marketplace, then life is even more tricky.'

Alex Clark in the Observer