Yvonne (27) from Hoogeveen writes love novel ‘Love of your life’ and comes second in a national writing competition

Hooge has been crazy about books since he was little. “I grew up in Noordscheschut and the library bus came there every week. There we were allowed to choose eight books to take home. I always took them off straight away.”

The extensive reading in her childhood ensured that she started writing in her teenage years. “These were usually short stories where the end was already on page two. The stories I now write are a bit longer, for example, I now know how to properly introduce a story.”

Event manager who doesn’t like love clichés

The book, which the young writer wrote, is about Jolijn. She is an event manager and is assigned by her boss to organize an event for singles.

Jolijn herself is not a sweet tooth at all and doesn’t really understand why those hearts and teddy bears are necessary to win someone over. She has to arrange everything together with her colleague Veerle. Veerle, on the other hand, is a fan of all the clichés surrounding love.

“The book is about the event itself. Jolijn meets Noah, who has to make a promotional video of the event. He is just like Jolijn, not crazy about rose petals and red hearts,” Hooge laughs. “But of course I’m not going to give away too much of the book, the readers will have to discover that for themselves.”

ANWB couple on bicycles

What inspired the 27-year-old to write this book was a conversation she heard on the street. “I was walking with a friend and we came across a couple on bicycles. These people were both wearing the same jacket and we joked about ANWB couples. My girlfriend said at one point: ‘You should be like this’. For her it was mainly a kind of horror. I started thinking about it again and I thought it was especially special that people can look at love so differently, that it is different for everyone.

The genre of the book is a romance novel. “I prefer to read this myself. I always love knowing how the story ends by page three. I can then relax and read the book.”

Wrong view of romance novels

According to Hooge, many people have the wrong view of a romance novel. “It’s not always the case that a man’s woes always come to a woman. It is the whole story surrounding it and the depth that is often in the stories that appeals to me. I also tried to incorporate that into my story.”

Second in writing competition

The Hoogeveen woman took part in a writing competition. Here she finished second. “The winner would see her or his book published. The jury thought it would be a shame if the first four stories were not published. That is why the publisher also offered me a contract.”

“There is so much more to creating a book. I thought it was mostly writing, but that’s actually only a small part. For example, my text had to be sent to an editor several times, who sent me back the entire file with all yellow highlights. Well, that scares you a bit,” she laughs.

‘Long and short list with my name’

Writing the story took two months. Publishing the book almost a year. “The writing competition was very exciting. Dozens of people participated. At one point a longlist with ten names was published, and I was among them. A month later the shortlist came, a top five. I also saw my name there. Then of course you start hoping more and more that you will come first. In the end I came second, but I think that’s quite an achievement for the first time,” Hooge laughs.

Cap! and Bruna

Yvonne’s book will be available from Pet from April 25! and Bruna in Hoogeveen. The book is also available online. “It’s fantastic to see a pile of your own books, among other writers. The stores were both also very enthusiastic.”

Hooge was asked by the publisher if she wanted to promote her book. “I didn’t have Instagram myself, but I created it anyway. Now I see reviews from people who have read my book. It’s great to read that they also appreciate the book.”