Self-Publishing and Winning the Hachette Prize with Rachel Pattinson
In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by independent children's author, publisher, and chartered librarian Rachel Pattinson. Rachel is the 2023 winner of the Hachette Children's Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Selfies Book Awards in 2026. She discusses the unique journey of her debut middle-grade mystery, 7 Distracted Detective, how she navigated the transition from winning a major traditional publishing award to confidently pursuing the indie publishing route, and how her background in libraries helped her master the book trade.
Key Takeaways:
Rachel won the 2023 Hachette Children's Novel Award for 7 Distracted Detective after submitting it to the Northern Writers Awards before she had even finished the first draft.
The middle-grade mystery balances an entertaining schoolyard puzzle with a serious B-plot about the 13-year-old protagonist's parent struggling with a late-stage alcohol problem.
Despite winning a major award and completing a year-long mentoring program with Hachette, Rachel still faced standard rejections from literary agents.
She pivoted to self-publishing, securing an Arts Council England grant to fund her education on the mechanics of independently producing and distributing children's books.
Rachel’s professional background as a chartered librarian and her time working for Seven Stories (the National Centre for Children's Books) gave her a vital understanding of book distribution and trade buying routes.
A Distracted Detective and a Serious B-Plot
Rachel’s debut novel, 7 Distracted Detective, is a contemporary mystery aimed at 9 to 12-year-olds. The story kicks off when 13-year-old Seven looks out a math class window and sees the school caretaker, Mr. O'Reilly, stumble across the field clutching his chest. He drops the school's master keys and is later reported missing, prompting Seven to investigate.
While the core of the book is an entertaining, puzzle-solving adventure, it does not shy away from serious themes. Seven is a "distracted" detective because they are dealing with a chaotic home life, specifically a parent with a late-stage alcohol problem. Rachel explained that while she usually writes as a "discovery writer," she knew the book needed this serious B-plot to ground the mystery.
Winning the Hachette Children's Novel Award
Before writing 7 Distracted Detective, Rachel had primarily focused on shorter chapter books for 6 to 9-year-olds. In her early twenties, she queried a chapter book and received full manuscript requests from two out of three agents, but became despondent and shelved her writing after they ultimately passed on it.
Years later, while still drafting 7 Distracted Detective, she entered the Northern Writers Awards (which included the Hachette Children's Novel Award) based only on a two-page synopsis and a partial manuscript. When the book was longlisted, she scrambled to write the ending and complete a hasty edit before ultimately winning the 2023 prize.
The award came with a cash prize and a year-long mentoring program with Hachette and New Writing North. Rachel received two rounds of editorial feedback from the Hachette team, developing the manuscript significantly.
The Pivot to Indie Publishing
Rachel's year happened to be the first year the Hachette award did not automatically come with a publishing contract. When the mentoring program ended, she was advised to query agents. Surprisingly, despite the award's prestige, she received standard rejections from agents who claimed the book just didn't fit their lists.
Rather than feeling defeated, Rachel turned to self-publishing. During her mentoring year, she had proactively secured an Arts Council England "Developing Your Creative Practice" grant, which she used to take training sessions and read books on the specific mechanics of self-publishing children's literature. Realizing she had the necessary skills to produce, market, and distribute a high-quality product, she confidently published the book herself.
How a Librarian's Background Helps
Rachel’s success in indie publishing is heavily supported by her professional background. She is a chartered librarian and a member of CILIP (the Library and Information Association), maintaining her chartership to support the profession—she even runs a Free Library from her own home.
Additionally, she worked for several years at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books. She credits this background with giving her a deep, practical understanding of the book trade, distribution routes (like Gardners), and how libraries buy and promote books. This mixed skill set allowed her to navigate the complex logistics of self-publishing with ease.
The Snowy Cabin Read
When asked what book she would want if snowed in at a woodland cabin, Rachel chose a book she is currently eager to read: Melva Mapletree and The Great Undoing. The indie-published book is set on a snowy mountain and directly supports mental health and well-being. It was published by Mortal Fools, a creative learning and theater charity where Rachel serves as a director, trustee, and safeguarding lead.
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