Miranda makes waves in writing world

Landing her first publishing deal is the realisation of a long-held dream for Jan Juc writer Miranda Luby.

It was a watershed moment for the former journalist when she answered a call from a senior editor at Text Publishing who saw something special in her work.

Miranda admits she was overcome with emotion at being told a manuscript she submitted for a writing prize was destined to become her debut novel.

“Getting that phone call felt very satisfying and very surreal,” Miranda recalls, adding that she was offered the book deal despite not winning the Text Prize.

“I was proud, because I’ve worked so hard for it, but it also felt like I must be dreaming.

“My first thought was, ‘I can’t believe I actually did it!’.”

Miranda’s novel is aimed at teenage readers and is a contemporary, coming-of-age story.

“My main character, 16-year-old Sarah, is determined to leave her old life behind when she is rejected by the guy she likes and moves to London with her family,” Miranda explains.

“But in her new friendships she becomes embroiled in a complex web of bullying and the mystery of an unlikely stalker, and slowly realises she can’t outrun her past or herself.”

Miranda says the working title for the book is Therefore I Am – a reference to philosophy, which Sarah uses to try and solve her problems.

The novel is likely to hit bookshop shelves in late 2021 or early 2022 following the usual lengthy editing process.

The 32-year-old laughs as she thinks back to her earliest attempts at fiction writing.

“I vividly remember copying out chapters of books like The Baby-Sitters Club and pretending to everyone that I had written them myself,” she concedes.

“I think this memory speaks to the fact that it took me a long time to build the confidence to really back my own writing.

“In Year 4 I wrote a short story about my stuffed teddy bears coming to life and Year 10 saw the creation of a crime novella in which all of my friends were murdered.

“You’ve got to start somewhere!”.

It seems creative success runs in the family.

Miranda’s brother, Hayden James, is a successful musician who has played sold-out venues worldwide, amassed more than half a billion streams and produced tracks for Katy Perry.

His work ethic and determination has certainly rubbed off.

“Seeing first-hand the dedication and courage it can take to pursue a creative dream and be successful has taught me not to give up during challenging times,” Miranda says.

“I’m also inspired by Hayden’s approach to writing music, which involves listening to his heart and creating what is calling out to him, rather than writing to a trend.”

Miranda says while the Surf Coast doesn’t feature in her debut novel, it has helped the writing process.

“I’ve lived in Jan Juc for six years now and the coastal environment is a soothing balm on rough writing day,” she says.

“There isn’t a plot problem in the world that a surf won’t give you the mental space to fix.

“I’m so grateful to live here.”

And her advice to budding authors dreaming of a book deal?

“Published authors are just unpublished authors who didn’t give up,” she says.

“If you keep reading, keep writing, keep taking on feedback and keep trying to tell the truth, you’ll get there.”

Follow Miranda on Instagram @mirandaluby