ABIGAIL JOHNSON’s heartwarming and Bath Novel Award listed debut The Secret Collector is about an elderly eccentric collector and a troubled teen who become each other’s only hope of getting their lives back on track. Abigail tells us about her writing journey and finding hope where it had been lost.
Congratulations on the publication of The Secret Collector! What are you most looking forward to?
Thank you! It is very exciting. When you’re writing away on your own for months on end with the hope that one day your work might be published, it’s an amazing feeling when that becomes a reality. Seeing my book in bookshops will be a dream come true so I can’t wait for that and I’m really looking forward to attending events and meeting readers who have read my words and hopefully enjoyed them!
Your literary agent is Lucy Balfour at WME. How did you find representation, and how did you know she was the literary agent for you?
There was definitely an element of luck involved as well as perseverance. I happened to see a tweet from the Director of WME Books saying she had new agents looking for clients. I looked them up and felt that my book would be a great match for Lucy’s wish list. I particularly liked that she mentioned Rachel Joyce, who I’ve been greatly inspired by, as one of her favourite authors. I knew she was the right agent for me because she had such a thoughtful response to my novel and offered suggestions which had already been at the back of my mind so really resonated with me. Also, she came across as an all-round lovely person who showed real enthusiasm for my writing. I knew we’d work well together – I was sold!
“Having the confidence to revisit what I’d written and spend time in the moment helped me to tell a better story. Sometimes it’s the smallest details that bring a character to life.”
What editorial changes did you make between the draft you queried and the published version?
I feel lucky that I haven’t had to make massive changes to my manuscript. My agent made some suggestions for structural changes to strengthen the pacing of the novel and also suggested adding an epilogue which I now think rounds off the story perfectly! Then my editor Maddie gave me a set of editorial notes which were all geared towards tightening things up and drawing out the nuances of the story and characters. Each time I’ve redrafted, I’ve been able to see the real benefits of an editorial eye over the story as when you’re so close to it, it’s often difficult to be objective.
You wrote The Secret Collector during Curtis Brown Creative’s three-month online novel-writing course. What was the most important thing you learned?
I was tutored brilliantly by the author Laura Barnett on my course and learned a lot from her and also from my course mates who are all talented writers. Getting feedback on my writing as my novel took shape was so helpful. One of the most important things that Laura taught me was to not rush through my scenes. I tend to write short chapters but having the confidence to revisit what I’d written and spend time in the moment helped me to tell a better story. Sometimes it’s the smallest details that bring a character to life.
The Secret Collector is the warm and uplifting story of an intergenerational friendship between Alfred, an elderly eccentric collector and troubled teen Kian who become each other’s only hope of getting their lives back on track. What sparked the idea for your book?
The idea came from so many different places but the characters of Alfred and Kian arrived almost fully formed. I collected old postcards as a child and I’ve always been fascinated by the importance we place on objects – whether it be a gig ticket from a first date, film memorabilia or a family heirloom passed down through generations. As well as sentimental value, the things we hold on to can help us feel connected to others. This partly influenced Alfred’s character.
Kian is a young care leaver and his character was inspired by a previous job I had which included writing information for young offenders, explaining often complex aspects of the criminal justice system in a way that was clear and easy to understand. This was where I first came across restorative justice and it piqued my interest as a fascinating subject for a story.
The Secret Collector shows ordinary-yet-extraordinary characters overcoming loss and isolation through determination and kindness. If there’s one message that you’d like readers to take from The Secret Collector, what would that be?
Alfred and Kian have very fixed ideas about who they are and their places in the world. Once this is challenged, they realise they’re capable of change and that life is richer when you open yourself up and let people in. I think the main message is that it’s never too late for second chances and sometimes, all it takes is one person to believe in you.
You’ve said that the “bumps in your road to getting published made you a better writer with strengthened resilience and more realistic expectations”. Can you say a little more about this?
When I first started writing, my expectations were that I’d hopefully be a published author the following year. I had no idea what was involved! The Secret Collector is my first published novel but the second I’ve written so my journey hasn’t been one of overnight success. The setbacks I’ve had along the way have made me more determined. Although there were times when I felt like packing away my laptop and giving up, I had to dig deep and keep going or publication would always be out of reach.
I can honestly say that rejections have made me a better writer. I tried to take on board any feedback I was lucky enough to receive, was spurred on to find out as much as I could about the industry, and I learned to bounce back when disappointments arose. Because of these experiences, I fully appreciate how far I have come, and I think this will help me to face the inevitable ups and downs that come with being an author.
Where and when do you write?
Over the years I’ve written in all sorts of places including the back of my car and in an indoor climbing centre while my kids have been bouldering. However, I write best on my laptop at home, seated at my desk, as it helps me to feel like I’ve got a job to do. Mornings are the best time for me though I have been known to have sudden bursts of creativity late at night. I’ve discovered that if I’m feeling stuck, going to café with a pen and notepad can be all that’s needed to help me push forward with the plot. A change of scene can literally lead to a change of scene! I also enjoy walking and use the voice recorder on my phone, so I don’t forget what has just popped into my head.
“I can honestly say that rejections have made me a better writer.”
Why did you enter the Bath Novel Award?
I had heard great things about the BNA and I knew that placing in a prestigious competition can catch an agent’s eye. I think the main reason for entering was that I was hoping to get some idea of whether my writing was any good and how it would be received by readers.
The Secret Collector longlisted for both 2021 and 2022’s awards and have said it played a role in motivating you to finish your first draft and then also to keep going. Was this primarily about having a deadline to hit, or about the confidence boost of knowing readers loved your book?
Both! I had actually longlisted with my first novel in 2019 and had such a brilliant experience that when I started the Curtis Brown Creative course in October 2020 with my next novel, I aimed to have a complete first draft ready to enter the competition the following May. Having a deadline was motivating and gave me a goal to work towards. I’m not sure I’d have been driven to keep writing without it.
That year, over 2,000 manuscripts were submitted to the award from around the world and so making the longlist of 31 entries gave me validation and was hugely encouraging. In the following months I went on to face a big agent disappointment and put the book aside for a while. When I was ready to revisit it, I knew that entering the BNA again would help me to keep going forward, determined to polish my novel and make it even better.
Lastly do you have any words of advice / encouragement for any writers thinking of entering the Bath Novel Award 2025?
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Even though I didn’t shortlist or win the competition, it has been a huge part of my journey to publication. From the excitement of identifying my work in the reader votes shared online, to attending the awards ceremony in beautiful Bath and meeting other writers, the competition has brought me joy, hope and extra confidence when I really needed it. Caroline, the competition organiser, has been warm and encouraging throughout and the fact that she is now sharing news of my publication with this interview says it all! The Bath Novel Award really is something special and I’d recommend entering to any writer.
Interview by Caroline Ambrose
THE SECRET COLLECTOR by Abigail Johnson
An uplifting and warm story about friendship across generations, the power of community and finding hope where it had been lost. Perfect for fans of Sally Page’s The Keeper of Stories and Evie Woods’s The Lost Bookshop.
When an elderly eccentric collector and a troubled teen become each other’s only hope of getting their lives back on track, what can possibly go wrong?
Alfred is an elderly widower who uses antiques and collectibles to fill the hole in his heart left by his late wife. Kian is a lost teen who has been let down by the care system and finds it difficult staying on the straight and narrow.
After Kian throws a brick through Alfred’s window, the shock sends Alfred to hospital and a social worker to his home, where his hoarding becomes impossible to ignore.
Begrudgingly, and at the request of the authorities, they both agree to enrol Kian on a restorative justice programme, helping to make Alfred’s home liveable again. The only problem: Alfred doesn’t want to throw any of his treasures away, and he certainly doesn’t want Kian for company.
What unfolds is a surprising and delightful journey of two characters who help each other more than they ever could have anticipated and, along the way, form the unlikeliest of friendships.
THE SECRET COLLECTOR is available from all good bookshops, including Bookshop.org, who contribute to our sponsored entry scheme if you order through the Bath Novel Awards listed page.
Or, buy THE SECRET COLLECTOR at: Amazon Blackwells Waterstones or WHSmith.
Find out more about Abigail and her writing at: www.abigailjohnsonauthor.co.uk
