What made one firm of publishers refuse to accept Dominic’s first book?

W: With us in the studio today is Dominic Austin—a science fiction writer who has delighted readers of all ages. Dominic, I read somewhere that you found it very easy to get published.
M: It’s true. I was very lucky. But with Return to Nothing—my first book, I had a problem. I sent it to a firm of publishers and they kept them for about 6 months. They finally sent it back to me. Saying the way with written was very original and the story was amazing. But they were unwilling to publish it because it was rather a large book and they were a tiny company. They advised me to contact another publisher who they knew was looking for science fiction writers. I had no trouble after that.
W: In Return to Nothing, the three central characters are completely imaginary, aren’t they?
M: That’s right. My characters are different from real people. The main thing is that in a good adventure story, the characters must have some sort of evolution, for example, they come to have knowledge that they lack to begin with. And it doesn’t mean they always go from being bad to being good at the end of the story. I don’t believe in that. My heroes are not particularly lovable.
W: After Return to Nothing, you went on to write a series of three other books with the same central characters. Why?
M: I started Return to Nothing with one book in mind. It’s sort of progress from there. And it went to another book then it went to a third book. The publishers knew they would be an instance success but writing a good series of books has one unwelcome consequence. I got a lot of requests from readers for more books in that series. I love the fact that they bother to write to me about it. But I also need to do something different and recharge my batteries.
W: Your success has not yet led to any literary prizes. Do you regret that?
M: Not in the least. I’m a story-teller and story-tellers want an audience. The more people who read me, the happier I am. So, all the other stuff to me has no meaning. I’ve always believed that when writers win prizes, their careers are over. But everyone seems to think I’m dying to win awards. I read a lot of fictions too and sometimes I wish I had written some of that. But I know I’m just as good, only different.
W: I understand your regret having allowed your book series to be made into a film.
M: Most definitely. It was a moment of foolishness when I thought there was no one in the science fiction field who has ever been offered this chance. I somehow knew I was making a mistake, but my pride got in the way and then it was too late. It was a difficult experience because the director was asking me to change parts of the book all the time. I knew from the beginning there’ll be little money anyway. Maybe the only advantage is that was an experience I could use in my writing.
W: That’s very interesting.