Parksville writer Ingela Hyatt received 128 rejection letters from publishers and agents before one book company sent something different -- a contract.
Last month, Hyatt, celebrated the release of her first historical romance novel: A Knight of Passion, printed by Samhain Publishing, Ltd. It's one of nine manuscripts she's tried to publish the past seven years.
"I sent out my first manuscript for a couple years, and then gave up on that," says Hyatt. "But after I finished A Knight of Passion, I really loved it, and my family loved it, so I started sending that one out."
Hyatt says the wait for a book deal might have been shorter if she'd sent more material directly to publishers instead of agents.
Extensive research into European history helped Hyatt write A Knight of Passion, set in 12th century England. The drama unfolds with a prison escape by the main character, Reynard Devin de Fauconer the Baron Rothwell, who is accused of murdering his cousin's lover. During his escape, Reynard also kidnaps his cousin's fiancee and they set out on a perilous journey across England.
"There's a lot of mystery in the book -- you don't know who the bad guy is. If you like intrigue, jealousy, murder, passion -- it's got it all," says Hyatt.
The book has garnered positive reviews from several other writers, including Jo Beverly, a Victoria-based romance novelist Hyatt counts as one of her favourite contemporaries.
Hyatt began reading romance novels in high school, but had to keep many of her paperbacks hidden.
"One day when I was 16 my dad caught me reading historical romance in my bedroom, and he forbade me from ever reading them again. Of course when you're young and a teenager you'll just read them at school," Hyatt says.
Writing has been Hyatt's artistic outlet since elementary school. At 19, the loss of her best friend in a car accident spurred a fantasy adventure short story. That became her first novel.
Hyatt's father, Max, went from a doubter to an enthusiastic reader after seeing the story.
Hyatt soon attempted her first full-length romance, after a disappointing novel by one of her favourite authors at the time.
"I was shocked by how emotionless it was, like she'd lost all passion for the genre.
I thought to myself 'I bet I could write a better book than this.' I don't know if mine was better, but it started me on the road."
Now Hyatt writes full-time, she says most of her story material comes to her while she's typing.
"I'm a very organic writer. I don't plot or anything like that -- I have to let it flow. I just let the hero and heroine take me on a journey."
One of the biggest misconceptions about romance literature, says Hyatt, is that it's only enjoyed by women.
"Did you know that 22% of all romance readers are male now? Despite what men like to say I think they do need romance in their life."
So what makes for a good romance novel with broad appeal?
"For me there has to be a lot of tension between the hero and the heroine," says Hyatt. "I like adventure and intrigue, and there's always the twist -- murder, things like that. You have to have not only conflict within the character, but conflict without the character as well. And of course you have to have your happily ever after."
You can buy A Knight of Passion online at chapters.indigo.ca, and amazon.ca. For more information on the author see Ingelahyatt.com.