Steven Scott

Here’s my story. I hope it offers a little encouragement to anyone who in later life thinks about turning out a novel for the first time.

I began my working life as a journalist, then went on to run a PR and design company. When I retired at 69, I stumbled into what you might call a third career as a novelist (though “career” may be stretching it a bit).

It took me about a year to write my first book, The Cross Double, a humorous crime story set in the world of fine art. It features retired journalist Harry Cross, widowed billionairess Juliet Rockhouse and a potty-mouthed young art expert called Bill Dexter (despite the name, she’s a woman).

Full of cautious optimism, I sent the manuscript to more than a dozen literary agents. The few who replied were polite but declined. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have mentioned my age. Who wants to take a chance on an old crock when there are all these sparky young writers coming through?

Then I discovered Amazon’s KDP self-publishing platform. It seemed like a great way to get my book out into the world. My friend Nick Marshall, a talented graphic designer, created the cover, and in October 2023 I uploaded the book. It didn’t sell in huge numbers, but it did sell, and more importantly, it was being read.

About nine months later, I completed my second novel, Tock Tick, a light-hearted time-travel yarn. This time I didn’t bother with agents. I uploaded it to Amazon in July 2024 and did a bit of social media promotion to give it a nudge.

Quite a few readers asked what happened next to Harry and his friends from The Cross Double, so I set to work on a sequel. The Ghost Portrait was published in June 2025, by which time I had reached the grand old age of 73. Time really does fly once you’re in your seventies.

In March 2026, my fourth book That Curious Mr Finch, a dark and (I hope) witty sci-fi story set in 1950s London, appeared on Amazon’s metaphorical shelves. And I’m currently aiming to publish my third Harry Cross novel this autumn.

So, to all the other old crocks out there: write for the sheer enjoyment of it, get sharp-eyed people to proofread your work, and if you do decide to approach agents maybe keep your age to yourself. It’ll make for a delightful surprise when they invite you into their swanky offices.