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 Christine Brooks is soon to be a name known the length and breadth of the Costa Blanca. The 27th April saw an opportunity for avid readers to meet an upcoming local literary star right on our very own doorstep.
Christine’s first published novel ‘A Quiet Island’ was released for sale on Saturday 27th April with Bookworld Espana in Portal de la Marina, Ondara. The launch of the book has been much anticipated, and many turned out to meet and greet the local authoress whilst purchasing a signed copy of her brilliant new novel.
The book is set on the Quiet Island of Barbados, and is a colorful, vivid tale of intrigue, mystery and murder, with a tasty twist. The book sets the murderous tone very early on, with an introduction to the killer, but the delicious and devious twist is not knowing which person is going to be murdered next, and there are plenty of people to pick from. The styles of some of the murders are also extremely inventive. This book has you on the edged of your seat trying to second guess not “who’s done it” but “who’ going to get it”. Quiet Island has all the necessary ingredients for a truly brilliant murder, mystery novel that has a real Agatha Christie feel about it. So if you are a fan of the murderous genre this should definitely be a book for you to devour.
Javea News were invited down to Bookworld Espana to meet the local authoress and ask her questions about the book, and what inspires her to write. Javea News “Hi Christine, it’s a great pleasure to meet you. So tell us what inspired you to start writing?” Christine “Well I had a busy life with kids, working with my husband and just the general day to day things that we all have to cope with. Once my day was over, and the kids had gone to bed I needed a release, so I thought it would be a great idea to kill someone off in my imagination. After a hard day I felt the need to murder someone, not fancying a stint in the local nick, I thought the best place to do this was in my imagination. I always loved to write stories, not for educational purposes just to give other people a rare few laughs, and an escape so that’s why I started to put my imagination down on paper, hopefully people will have a laugh at my novels and they will also provide that much needed escape for them too” Javea News “So who are your literary hero’s and what’s your favorite novel?” Christine “mmm I think it would have to be Mary Higgins Clarke, “Where are the Children”. I read this book in the early 70’s and couldn’t put it down, then I attempted to read it again after my children had been born, and had a much harder time. Reading it was quite different the second time around. I associated with the characters and their pain more than I had the first time, but it is still my favorite and so is she”.  Javea News “How long have you had the writing bug then?”
Christine “I started writing short stories about 20 years ago, really just for friends. I was always being told to do something about it, as they all thought my stories were really great. Then a couple of years ago I submitted a short story to the Windsor Theatre who were holding a competition and amazingly I won, so I thought maybe I should do this seriously and see if I could get the novel I had written published. With the support of my wonderful friends especially Lorraine and my incredible family I now have my first book published and it’s all so exciting” Javea News “How long did the book take from conception to publication?” Christine “All in all 7 years. A year to write the book and then 6 years to find a publisher. Naively I sent the manuscript out to all the big publishing houses when I had finished it. I got a lovely letter back from one of them, saying that they received on average 60 new novels per week and that they only take on 3 new authors per year, I felt such a fool but I didn’t give up, and now that perseverance has paid off in the end” Javea News “How do you research a book like this?” Christine “I lived in Barbados for a number of years, and all the anecdotes in the book actually happened, in fact I had to leave some of the things that happened out of the novel because no one would have believed them!” Javea News “Are any of the characters in the book based on real people, and who is your favorite character?” Christine “Actually all of the characters in the book are based on real people. The grandmother is my own grandmother down to a tee. All of her characteristics and mannerisms are exactly the same and she’s my favorite for obvious reasons. She would always quote “God pays debts without money” she was very righteous I just had to put her in the book.” Javea News “So how has being a published author changed your life?” Christine “Well it’s brought real pleasure to all my family and friends. Paul my husband is thrilled so are the kids and my mom. It’s all been really fun, im thrilled; it’s given me a real inner self confidence. Javea News “So what advice would you give to all other wannabe writers out there?” Christine “Just go for it! If I can do it anyone can. Keep the faith and persevere. The support of family and friends is really important and there encouragement will help you keep believing in yourself. But seriously just do it” Christine’s novel “A Quiet Island” is being distributed all over the Costa Blanca by Bookworld Espana or through Amazon.com. Javea News has been fortunate enough to be presented with a signed copy of the novel to give away as a prize.
To enter please submit you name and phone number via email, and answer to the question below. The draw will take place on the Saturday 15th May and the winner will be notified by email. What is the capital of Barbados? Send your answers to:-
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