Jason Wallace, 41 (above), was going for a world record in the Rejection Sweeps, a contest in which I fancied my own chances of victory, with The Adorations going for 40 thumbs-down or more, until I read about Wallace, whose novel Out of the Shadows was rejected over 100 times before winning the Costa (ex-Whitbread) Award. "I think I may have had a few low points when trying to get the book noticed, but in truth I don't think I would ever have given in," he said, according to The Independent. See? It can happen, and does. Just not very often.

Anyway, well done, Mr. Wallace. Your book's on order.