THE idea behind “Right Date Wrong Guy” – Sarah Schofield’s debut novel – came when the Canberra author was on a date herself.

On her first date following the end of a relationship a few years ago, Schofield learnt that her date shared the same birthday as her former partner.

“Ben was a lovely guy, but I thought I can’t date two guys born on the same day, that’s just weird,” said Schofield.

Needless to say, the date ended shortly afterwards, but the inspiration for Schofield’s first romance novel was born.

Schofield – a former journalist – shared her experience with her work colleagues the following day, only to discover they had similar stories.

“There was the chick whose husband and father were born on the same day,” said Schofield.

“Then there was the chick who actually dated two guys born on the same day, same month, same year. 

“All of a sudden people started to share their date coincidences with me, and it started to feel like people, dates and numbers meant something.”

“Right Date Wrong Guy” tells the story of Sophie Westcott, a young woman who believes the man of her dreams is born on April 11. With the help of her friends, Sophie embarks on a quest to find him.

“And so you hop on an adventure of what one woman will do to find the right man,” said Schofield.

Work on Schofield’s romance novel started some years ago when the first-time author was living in Tasmania.

The 53-year-old, who now writes from her home in Lyneham, said she had made at least 10 attempts at writing the book.

“The early versions were just me waffling on because it’s easy to go down rabbit burrows,” Schofield said. 

“If you’re Stephen King you can sit down and write whatever comes out of your brain, and it just flows, but I needed a framework and a synopsis.”

After engaging the help of a mentor, and establishing the fundamentals of “good” romance writing, Schofield’s novel finally began to take shape.

“We looked at what the reader wanted to read, what their expectations are and how long each chapter should be,” said Schofield.

“Then over the course of 12 months I wrote a synopsis, and once I had that it gave me the instruction manual I needed to move forward.”

Schofield turned the book around quickly, managing to write most of it in seven weeks, while on leave from work.

“I went nowhere, saw no-one, and worked on it for up to nine hours a day,” said Schofield. “By Easter it was finished.”

Schofield did the rounds of publishers learning to roll with the punches after several rejections. Eventually, and prompted largely by her sister’s death last year, Schofield decided to publish the novel herself.

“When you have someone close to you that passes away it’s a huge reality check,” Schofield said. 

“It made me think what have I done, what have I got to do, and what have I not focused on yet. I thought to myself, I haven’t published this book. So, I set up Spotted Hen Publishing, and self-published it.”

One of six children, Schofield grew up on her family’s sheep and wheat farms not far from Wagga Wagga. 

Schofield said her passion for writing, and her love of reading started young.

“I spent a lot of time reading as a kid, because my siblings had either left the family farm or were at boarding school,” Schofield said.

“I don’t remember when I first thought I’d write a book, but I’ve always known I would.”

Upon leaving school, Schofield studied journalism and English literature at university. She then worked in radio and television for the ABC in Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart including stints as a reporter and producer on the “7.30” program, and a researcher for “Australian Story” and “Landline”.

Schofield deliberately chose to model the powerful characters in her book upon real people, something which has drawn favourable comments from readers.

“My characters are complex, and flawed, they are both brave and silly and they don’t always get it right, just like humans,” said Schofield.

Also passionate about cooking, Schofield – who now works in communications – has started writing her second novel “Chocolate Brownies for Breakfast”.

“Right Date Wrong Guy” available locally at Dymocks in Civic and online through Amazon and Booktopia.