A WAGGA-BORN author has been overwhelmed by the community's support of her first novel, which has made the top ten bestsellers at a local bookshop.
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Sarah Schofield released her novel on November 15, described as a fun, light, summer narrative which pays homage to her upbringing in the Riverina.
The manuscript for Right Date Wrong Guy was forwarded to several publishers who declined to carry the work, but Ms Schofield, determined to make a name for herself, self-published the novel.
Three weeks later, and her name sits on shelves alongside established authors, including the work of International Best Selling author Trent Dalton, after Collins Booksellers Wagga chose to back the author.
She described the success as her "pinch me moment", crediting Collins and the local community for contributing to her success.
"I just am so proud of my hometown," Ms Schofield said.
"My childhood gave me the foundation for me to be here today.
"To have my old school friends, my teachers and the community get behind me is amazing ... I even got a bit teary-eyed."
Jenny Leggett from Collins Booksellers Wagga said local authors always get a look in at her store, but Ms Schofield stood apart for her sheer determination.
"She's trying to build a name for herself, but the publishing companies didn't want a bar of her because she wasn't famous," Ms Leggett said.
"It's a lovely little romance, a really easy read, and we wanted to help get it out there."
The narrative's connection to the Riverina by referencing local towns and familiar imagery was also in the first-time author's favour.
"Everyone loves to read about the local area," Ms Leggett said.
"[Local content] is just a really nice touch for us, and I just think that it is really easy to promote."
Ms Schofield grew up on a property outside Wagga, attending Mount Erin High School and later Trinity Senior High School.
"I got the best education in Wagga that set me up for life," she said.
She graduated from university with majors in journalism and English literature, driving her towards a career with the Australian Broadcasting Network in Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart.
But her life-long dream was to be an author and teaming up with a mentor, she discovered that the most authentic work comes from writing about what you know best.
"[The region] became really important for me to include and to write about places and people and characters that I know," she said.
"So some of my characters, they feel like your next-door neighbour, they feel like the farmer next door.
"I've just captured a lot of my memories in there."
Right Date Wrong Guy is a "funny and heart-breaking adventure" about a regional woman alone in the city following the end of her eight-year relationship, who ventures out to find 'the one'.
Ms Schofield said the most powerful theme she explores is the protagonist's desire to return to the country even if it is not possible.
"Home always feels like it's in the country and it feels like the city that you're living in - while your life is there, and your friends are there and family there - where you've come from is just stronger than all of that," she said.
"The strongest feelings in the book is that feeling of being torn, torn between your country roots and the need to make a living in a city."
Right Date Wrong Guy is available at Collins Booksellers Wagga and most bookstores.
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