We are over the moon for our graduate Becky Hunter, who wrote her debut novel One Moment using our Finished Novel Course, which guides writers from a bright idea to a submission-ready novel with structured, carefully paced lessons, one-on-one coaching, live classes, intensive feedback and a full manuscript assessment.
We’re thrilled to be able to share the story behind this fantastic new novel and celebrate the brilliant Becky Hunter here.
The story
Atlantic imprint Corvus signed One Moment, the ‘heart-wrenching and uplifting’ debut novel by Becky Hunter, in 2022. We are so proud and delighted to see this novel hitting the book stores in the UK and the USA.
An emotional, heart-wrenching and uplifting story about friendship, love and sacrifice, perfect for fans of David Nicholls.
US rights were sold to Grand Central in a significant six-figure two-book pre-empt. Corvus has dubbed One Moment ‘the most joyful, poignant debut of 2023’.
One Moment has been praised as ‘a joy from start to finish’ by Sheila O’Flanagan, ‘poignant yet unwaveringly hopeful’ by Holly Miller, and by author Jill Mansell as ‘an emotional read about love and trust with an OMG ending’.
It’s a story about moments – or maybe that one moment. The moment you met your spouse. The moment you picked your degree, quit your job, fell pregnant. Or maybe just the moment you did something inconsequential, without thinking about it, as Scarlett does in the story – not knowing that the consequences will be far bigger than you could possibly realise….
I am a sucker for the what ifs in life, and perhaps that’s why I wrote this – because I hope it will appeal to other people who wonder, as I often do, what would have happened if they’d chosen another path along the way somewhere – what would have happened if that ‘one moment’ in their lives had been different.
—Becky Hunter
One Moment
The day Scarlett dies should have been one of the most important of her life. It doesn’t feel fair that she’ll never have the chance to fulfil her dreams. And now, she’s still... here... somehow, watching the ripple effect of her death on the lives of those she loved the most.
Evie cannot contemplate her life without Scarlett, and she certainly cannot forgive Nate, the man she blames for her best friend’s death. But Nate keeps popping up when she least expects him to, catapulting Evie’s life in directions she’d never let herself imagine possible. Ways, perhaps, even those closest to her had long since given up on.
If you could go back, knowing everything that happens after, everything that happens because of that one moment in time, would you change the course of history or would you do it all again?
Becky’s story
Becky Hunter has spent eight years working on the other side of publishing, helping authors get their books into the world. Working on both the editorial side of publishing and in PR. On the PR side, she worked at two major publishers – Transworld (part of Penguin Random House) and Headline (part of Hachette). Becky helped launch the career of debut authors such as Shari Lapena and Karen Hamilton.
No doubt when it came to writing her own novel, Becky felt the same trepidation of any debut novelist. Maybe even more, given she knew the ins and outs of the publishing industry.
Becky wanted to write the story for so many different reasons. She lost one of her friends when she was just 28 – a friend who’d made her London life bearable when she was floundering in her early years there. The grief of losing a close friend was something painfully familiar for Becky to write about. But she also wanted to reflect the fact that, sometimes, it’s not the romantic leads in our life that are most important – or at least, not only them.
One Moment is a love story, yes, but it’s also a celebration of female friendship, and of the value it can bring to our lives.
—Becky Hunter
Becky’s experience with The Novelry
Becky joined The Novelry to finish her novel on The Finished Novel Course and worked closely with our writing coach Emylia Hall.
Here’s what she had to say about the experience.
I was ready to give up before I found The Novelry
I found The Novelry at a time when I was ready to give up, having had several knock-backs and ‘near misses’ with my writing. I knew I wanted to write another book and I had the idea for one kicking around, but I was feeling very low on confidence and knew I’d be my own worst enemy if left to my own devices.
I was inspired to get writing and keep going, and the course made me think more deeply about plot and character, so that I had a finished manuscript that needed relatively little editorial change.
—Becky Hunter
Signing up to The Novelry’s course was just the thing I needed – it provided me with structure, support and encouragement. I was inspired to get writing and keep going, and the course made me think more deeply about plot and character, so that I had a finished manuscript that needed relatively little editorial change when I got to the end.
The sessions with Emylia Hall, were a real highlight – she always made me feel like she genuinely cared about my novel, and I was constantly amazed at the way she engaged with the story and the creative suggestions she brought forward. The sessions kept me on track and helped me work through plot kinks along the way and I felt like I had a real champion through the whole process.
The sessions kept me on track and helped me work through plot kinks along the way and I felt like I had a real champion through the whole process.
—Becky Hunter
Overall, a very worthwhile investment in my writing career!
Write your own success story
If you’ve got a brilliant idea – or just a love of writing – it’s time to invest in your own dream. Follow in Becky’s footsteps and sign up to one of our creative writing courses today – just look over our offerings to find the one that’s right for you. Read our writing course reviews to find out more about our graduates’ experiences.
Congratulations, Becky, and here’s to many happy readers and many more years of happy writing.
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