In this week’s blog, Louise Morrish explores how being both an author and bookseller has shaped her approach to writing. From honing her elevator pitch to thinking about marketing well before the book is out, Louise shares how seeing the publishing world from both sides has given her a unique perspective on connecting with your audience.
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My journey to publication
During the early years of my writing life, I was raising three kids, running a busy home, and working in a variety of library roles. I wrote in the nooks and crannies of everyday life: when my children were especially young, I was often only able to write in five- or ten-minute bursts – that was all the time I had. Between rejections, I read as much as possible. I honed my craft, participated in writing workshops, networked, and attended author events. By 2019, I was seriously considering giving up trying to get published. Submitting to the Penguin Random House First Novel Competition was my last-ditch attempt to break into the industry, and I’m so glad I entered!
I had no confidence that I would do well in the competition, but I knew that every entry would be read by someone in the industry. And maybe, just maybe, they might want to see more of my work. To my astonishment, I won – and my lifelong dream of becoming a published author came true.
I thought getting published was the end goal, but becoming a bookseller has taught me that it’s only just the beginning.
A view from both sides of the counter
Today, I occupy a somewhat unusual position in the book world: I’m both an author, promoting and selling my own books, and a bookseller, championing the work of others. As the book manager at Goldfinch Books, I see first-hand what publishers do (and sometimes don’t do) to support their authors. I know how many new books arrive at independent bookshops each week – far more than we can possibly stock – and how fiercely every inch of shelf space is contested.
Working as the book manager means I’m surrounded not only by books, but also by readers. I see what draws people to a story, what makes them pick up a book in the first place, and the conversations that happen around those books.
This has made me much more conscious of the kind of author I want to become. Being part of an independent bookshop has given me a genuine understanding of the importance of connection – between writers and readers, between books and communities, and between the people who bring stories into the world.
Seeing my own writing through a bookseller’s eye
My current work in progress is about the forgotten women who pioneered our present-day athletics movement.
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Louise Morrish is an author, bookseller, creative writing tutor, and historical speaker from Hampshire. She writes stories inspired by the lives of real women in the past, who achieved extraordinary things, but whom history has forgotten. Her debut novel, Operation Moonlight, won the Penguin Random House First Novel competition and was published in 2022. Her second novel, Women of War, was published in 2025. She can be found on Substack, Facebook and Instagram.
