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biography
 | As a chartered librarian of fourteen years I can safely say I have
a good background in books, although not in public libraries where
fiction is prominent. |
| I have wanted to write for children for many years and this is my
first completed story, one that I've been itching to get on paper for
some time and the first one I have seriously tried to get published.
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| It's loosely based on an experience I had in my late teens with a
Swedish pen pal I shared with my mate in Liverpool who came to visit
us for two weeks once and who turned out to be a big disappointment.
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| I have tried to make the pen pal character in 'Abbie's Rival',
Colette, the same, although the reason for Abbie's annoyance is the
young man she fancies prefers Colette instead. |
| The work also focuses on jealousy. Everyone’s jealous of Colette:
Abbie, Abbie’s best mate Shireen and Abbie’s stepsister Tanya. I have
set the story in Liverpool, a city I've known all my life and which I
left, reluctantly, at the age of twenty-six.
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'Goalden Girl’ is my second completed novel, written in the first person of
approximately 50,000 words. It seems to work quite well but it is
currently in its first edit and needs more work. I think even this
sample could be reworked. Like ‘Abbie’s Rival’ it appears to fall into the middle reader category although I do
want to progress to writing for young adults when I get a suitable idea
for a story.
I am looking for a
reputable publisher or literary agent. However even if I never get
published it won’t stop me writing! I can only get better with each
attempt!
I have another title on
the Showcase, Abbie’s Rival’, which is
unpublished and which I will very likely rewrite in the future.
I have displayed
another sample of ‘Goalden Girl’ on the Barrie James new authors
site, http://www.newauthors.org.uk.
Abbie's Rival
1. The story was originally intended for the young adult market, the
market I really wish to write for. It has romantic content but I have
learned from an editorial service that this doesn’t determine
readership, it's the age of the characters. As Abbie is fourteen I’ve
been advised it should be directed at middle readers, age 9-12.
2. I realised I needed a lot of help with the plot of this story and
reworked it with the help and advice of the Trace Writing School based
at Nottingham Trent University. When the course was over I the tutor
said I had produced a good, contemporary piece of work.
3. I am looking for both an agent and a publisher, either who would be
prepared to give a novice writer a chance. I intend to write more
children's books and won't be deterred from trying to get them published
conventionally.
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Category:
Children's 10+
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