Introducing Tom Newlands: From Warehouse Worker to Acclaimed Debut Novelist
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- June 14, 2025
Tom Newlands, 45, born in Perth and now living in London, is an exciting new voice in contemporary Scottish fiction. His debut novel, Only Here, Only Now, is a vivid coming-of-age story set in a 1990s Fife seaside council estate, featuring Cora Mowat, a sparky teenager navigating a complex life with undiagnosed ADHD. The novel has earned widespread praise and a plethora of award nominations.
Tom’s writing journey began late, only starting seriously at age 40 during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Growing up with ADHD and autism, he struggled to find a path into creative work, hindered by the challenges of unadapted workplaces and a lack of formal training. His writing process is deeply influenced by his neurodivergence, with hyperfocus helping him complete a 120,000-word first draft in just three months.
Before becoming a full-time author, Tom worked in a warehouse packing and shipping prints, a job that proved increasingly difficult due to a lack of understanding and inclusivity in the workplace. The pandemic furlough gave him the opportunity to finally pursue his long-held dream of writing.
Tom’s big break came when he won a place on a Curtis Brown novel development course by submitting chapters of his book to competitions. His agent, Sophie Lambert, signed him soon after reading the unfinished manuscript, providing crucial encouragement and support.
His debut book deal followed an exciting auction process, leading to a partnership with Francesca Main at Orion, known for editing The Miniaturist and This Is Going to Hurt. Together, they spent two and a half years shaping the novel into its final form.
Only Here, Only Now explores themes of grief, belonging, addiction, family, mental health and identity through the eyes of a fiercely honest and brave protagonist. The story resonates with a wide audience but especially with women who grew up in the 1990s, many of whom see themselves in Cora’s struggles and spirit.
Tom explains, “For many readers Cora is just a funny, outspoken, impulsive teenager, but to others – those with autism and ADHD – she represents a way of being that is rarely seen in literature.”
The novel has earned multiple awards and nominations, including a Guardian Fiction Book of the Year (2024), and shortlists for the Gordon Burn Prize and Society of Authors disability and debut author awards.
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