World-famous author's secrets of success

An Eastbourne author who has achieved world fame with sales of more than 2,000,000 copies, reveals that she never gave up despite being pursued by bailiffs and having a host of rejections.
TAMARA MCKINLEY SUS-161202-092644001TAMARA MCKINLEY SUS-161202-092644001
TAMARA MCKINLEY SUS-161202-092644001

Tamara McKinley, revealed the secrets to her success to the Anderida Writers Group at their meeting in the West Rocks Hotel.

She said, “It’s not enough to be a talented writer – you have to persevere no matter what obstacles are put in your way.

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“I had dozens of rejections and five of the first six books I wrote never made it into print.

“After two marriages, bailiffs were banging on my front door and I was forced to sleep on other people’s couches.

“But I never gave up. I realised that writing is an art which has to be learned like any other skill, as I suffered repeated rejections over five frustrating years.

“I discovered the healing power of throwing flower pots against a wall, and eventually, in 1996, my psychological thriller Reap The Whirlwind was published.”

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Tamara, returning to Anderida where she was a founder member and once served as chairman, held a question and answer session. She told current chairman Tony Flood how her persistence paid off.

She said, “When I wrote Matilda’s Last Waltz it changed my life – and my finances. My books are now consistently in the top best-selling lists all over the world, and the latest, Echoes From Afar, is my thirteenth novel.”

Mr Flood said, “Getting Tamara to come back after so many years to pass on her advice, a few days after the launch of her two new books, was a real coup for Anderida Writers. It adds to the prestige of another world famous author, Peter James, becoming our Patron in December.”

Tamara, who has lived in the Eastbourne area most of her life, also writes under the name of Ellie Dean, and Sweet Memories of You, the tenth book in The Beach View Boarding House series, also came out on January 28.

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To join the group email Tony Flood on [email protected]. All writers are welcome.

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