A solid story, compelling characters, and strong writing are a great start (especially when you combine that with an accurate understanding of the business of publishing).
But if you want your novel to stand out from the competition, in my experience, it has to have something extra.
It has to have a sense of meaning.
'I'm very reassuringly honest'
‘My settings of Europe and English visitors weren't really doing it for them, so we decided Scotland would be good. I thought an island would be great, because it's a small community, and it's an opportunity for my main character to get away from it all. The team at HarperCollins have been so supportive and enthusiastic... Read more