Tracy Tully (writing as Pat Jacobson)

Tracy Tully (writing as Pat Jacobson) lives in a small rural town in southern Australia with her husband, two sons, a very old golden retriever, and a stray cat named ‘Lizard’. (And also the two possums living under their house.) After years spent working at a public library—and devouring every new historical novel that crossed her desk—her creativity took her in a different direction and she started her own baking business. Reading and writing were replaced with rolling pins and royal icing, but after losing two family members to brain cancer she was compelled to reassess what was important in life, and to stop putting things off until tomorrow. 
After digging out her old manuscripts and enrolling in numerous writing courses, she completed her first YA novel, ‘An Solas’ under the pen name, Pat Jacobson. 

What made you enter the Cheshire Novel Prize Kids?

I’d only recently joined ‘X’ and saw a number of people posting about the amazing feedback they were receiving from the Cheshire Novel Prize competition. When I saw that there was a CNP Kids one currently open and accepting worldwide entries, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get some feedback on my own work. Life threw some curveballs my way and I only squeezed my entry in on the very last day though, but I’m so thankful now that I did.

What did it feel like when you were LL and then SL? 

I was quite honestly thrilled just to see my snippet posted in the top 10%! So at close to midnight Australian time, when I saw ‘An Solas’ appear on the longlist, I shook my 18yo son awake to shout my exciting news, and then did the same to my husband. (My son had absolutely no recollection of it in the morning though, so I got to tell him twice! His excitement made up for my 7yo’s lack of.)

Just before Sara rang to tell me An Solas had made the shortlist though, I’d finished filling a big container full of cat biscuits, and the cat had stuck his paw in and pulled the whole container off the bench. So there I was, on my hands and knees, scooping handfuls of biscuits while trying to fend off the cat (and perhaps giving him a few choice words as well) when Sara rang with the news. It was honestly the biggest surprise and I was in complete shock! I didn’t even care that the cat was gulping down mouthfuls of biscuits while I was distracted! (Until I had to clean up a huge pile of vomit the next morning, that is.) It was truly the best feeling to know that junior readers had read An Solas, from start to finish, and that they liked it enough to carry it this far. My heart nearly burst.

What was the reaction from those around you/family and friends?

My husband has always been my biggest support, and was just as excited as I was. Perhaps even more-so! He would have told absolutely everyone if I’d let him! My 18yo has also been thrilled—as much as 18yo boys can be, anyway. He has been walking past and randomly saying ‘shortlisted’ to me though, just in case I forget. My 7yo just keeps asking when I’m going to get ‘eliminated’ …

The wonderful women in my writing group have been thrilled, and also inspired to enter the CNP as well—without their encouragement, I wouldn’t have been brave enough to put my work out there so I’m so thankful to them also.
The few friends and extended family that know of my writing have all been rather surprised but also very excited for me. Some of them have even requested to read the book, and I might just let them now.  

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

Like quite a few writers I’m sure, it all stemmed from a crazy dream I had when I was a teenager (so many years ago!). I knew the dream had been inspired by one of the childhood memories my Irish grandmother had shared with me earlier that day—except there was sword fighting. And I was riding a horse. I just had to run with that.  

What’s it about?

‘An Solas’ is about Kate (17) who has a plan for her final year of high school: to stay invisible; maintain her straight ‘A’ grades; and fantasise about Noah. (Secretly, of course—he’s way out of her league.)

Sharing some sort of strange connection with a girl—Lilli—is not part of that plan. But whenever Lilli finds herself in danger, a freak storm rolls across the sky and snatches Kate in a blinding flash of light. She’ll wake somewhere new, somewhere terrifying, and she must do whatever it takes—even if it means putting her own life in danger—to save Lilli. Because Kate soon realises, she cannot return home again until she does. 

What’s your writing routine?

I don’t have a regular writing routine, as much as I’d like to. I generally do a lot of plotting in my mind, particularly when I find myself baking late into the night and the house is quiet, everyone’s asleep—it’s my no interruptions guaranteed time. (Aside from the possums who venture out from under the house to party on the roof.) By the time I’ve found a few spare hours to sit down and actually write, it’s generally all sitting there in my head, ready to come out. The next day I’ll be back in the kitchen and starting to plot out the next few scenes. 

What’s next for you?

I left An Solas a little bit open at the end, and have plotted two more novels in case there is interest in pursuing that, but I’m excited to receive the feedback from the CNP Kids judges and readers so I can do another edit before sending queries out to agents again. It has already received a little bit of interest though, with the full requests still out at the moment.
Mainly I’m just busily working on a new YA paranormal mystery, and hope to finish the first draft in the next month or two. 

What are your favourite children’s books and why?

I grew up with Enid Blyton’s stories, and my favourite two were ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’, and ‘The Adventures of the Wishing Chair’. They were beautifully illustrated big hardcover books that I remember struggling to hold up in bed at night, but they were the first to truly capture my imagination and kick off my love of reading.
My all-time favourite children’s book though is ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go!’ by Dr. Seuss. I used to read this to my 18yo when he was younger, and now read it to my youngest son, and it still chokes me up, every single time. Especially when things aren’t going so great in this adulting gig that’s thrust upon us. I honestly think there’s a little something for all of us in Dr. Seuss’s books, no matter our age! 

Any tips for writers intending on entering the competition?

Just to hit that upload button and give it a shot! It’s the perfect opportunity to get some eyes on the opening of your manuscript, and to receive some feedback for such a small entry fee makes it even more worthwhile. And you never know—you might end up like me, and taken completely by surprise when your novel ends up on the shortlist. You really have nothing to lose, so just go for it.