York student Sophie Coulombeau has been proclaimed as the countries Next Great Novelist after winning a competition by publishing company Route’s.
Her debut novel, ‘Rites’, will be released nationwide in Waterstone’s stores and online next month.
The novel is about four young teenagers who agree to make a pact to lose their virginity away from the watchful eyes of their strict Catholic community – a pact which goes horribly wrong and continues to haunt them a decade later.
When Vision caught up with Sophie, she was evidently ecstatic at her success. “I was over the moon to win the award [and] this is an incredible opportunity for a young writer in an industry that is notoriously hard to crack.”
Currently studying for a PhD in English Literature at York, she also credited the University with helping her with the novel’s creation and launch, counting herself “very lucky to work in a creative environment that is so conducive to research and composition.”
Asked what advice she would give to budding young writers at the University, for Sophie the answer is simple – just keep writing.
“Many talented people consider themselves writers at heart, but never actually write anything, or at least don’t finish it, because they’re afraid of failure. The first draft will be bad – it always is. It doesn’t matter. The next one will be better, and then you’ll be glad you tried. Then enter competitions like Route’s. You never know what could happen!”
Coulombeau will be signing copies of her debut novel at York’s Waterstone’s on 16th June and will be speaking on a writing panel at the University’s Festival of Ideas on the 23rd June.
Well, congratulations to Sophie Coulombeau for winning the Routes competition. I think she is an inspiration to many young writers who are trying to curve a niche for themselves in the writing industry. If other writers would to emulate Sophie and heed to the advice that she gave, I think many writers would be on their way to a successful career.