When Michael Stanton goes to work one day and doesn’t come back, everyone – friends, family, police – thinks his pregnant girlfriend Jill should accept he’s left her. After all, he’s done it before.
But Jill just won’t believe that Michael would walk away from her and their unborn child. Increasingly desperate and alone, she’s determined to find him. Just where is Michael?
What Jill doesn’t know is that his beautiful ex, Anna, wants him back, and won’t take no for an answer. And it isn’t just him she wants…
In a blurred maze of captivity, sexual tension and dark desire, Michael battles with his feelings. Does he really want his normal life, or could there be a future with the woman who terrifies, controls and fascinates him?
It’s always a real pleasure to introduce a new author, particularly when they’re also a member of the excellent Book Connectors group on Facebook. Baby by Marie Campbell, published last week for kindle, is described as “a compelling, sexy, disturbing and unforgettable thriller” – and I’m just sorry I couldn’t make the time to read it. As I write, it already has one great five star review on Amazon, and it really looks like it’ll be the first of many.
I’m delighted to welcome author Marie Campbell to Being Anne to tell us more about how Baby came about…
Five years ago, after having a baby, taking a career break from the Civil Service and moving house, I wondered what I could do to fill up all of the free time(!) I had. Writing was something I have always had a passion for, and I had dabbled with short stories, diaries and journals for years. So I decided to embark on an online writing course. Another course followed, and by now, I had quite a portfolio of short stories, many of which I entered in competitions and a few of which were successful.
But what I really wanted to do was write a novel. A thick tome that was all my own work and that maybe someone would actually want to read. A novel-writing course followed. This was serious stuff – posting large chunks of previously private work and awaiting the critique of fellow students and tutors. Course completed, I had the makings of a book. Only around 40,000 words, but it was a start. I became very good friends with a tutor from the course, and she supported and encouraged me to complete what I’d started.
In March 2014, my son turned three, and my book was complete. Now all I needed to do was find an agent. And then a publisher. I was under no illusion that this would be easy, but determined to give it my best shot, I armed myself with a copy of the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook and began working my way through the list of agents. Some wanted an email, some wanted a letter. Some wanted a 100-word synopsis; others 300 words. Three chapters or fifty pages – I gave them what they asked for and waited for a reply. And some of them did respond.
But it took six long months before I secured someone who liked my book and wanted to represent me. And then we began the process of tweaking, deleting and adding new chapters. Honing the book until it was as good as it could be. After the first round of submissions to publishers was unsuccessful (but with some tantalisingly close calls and positive feedback) Baby was tweaked again, and submitted again.
Finally, early in 2016, many months after I’d thought my book was ‘finished’, The Conrad Press, a publishing house based in Canterbury, offered to publish Baby. Since then, I’ve had the brilliant experience of working with the cover design, and have had a crash course in setting up a Facebook page, website and the power of Twitter! I’ve meant some fantastic writers, bloggers and readers via forums, groups and through my newsletter.
And now, my book is available on Amazon (ebook format – hard copy to follow in August) and many people have indicated that they are actually going to read it! Writing a book is a wonderful, and unique, experience, and something I’ve always dreamed of doing. My writing has always been a pretty private thing, and I only quite recently shared the fact that I do write with my friends. Having a book out there, in the world, is both terrifying and utterly exciting.
I’m now working on my second book, and fit in writing whenever I can around my family and working as a freelance proofreader. I’d like to thank Anne for having me here on her brilliant blog.
It was a real pleasure Marie – and wishing you and Baby every success…!
Author profile
I was born in Hetton-le-Hole, in the north-east of England, in 1972. Growing up, I spent many hours reading and writing stories and can still recall the pride when, aged eight, my story was chosen by the primary school teacher to be backed in cardboard and put on display.
Fast-forward several years, via an abandoned teaching degree, many years as a civil servant and a new baby; driven by a lifelong passion for words, I embarked on an online writing course. I wrote many, many short stories, and then I decided to write a book.
Over the years, I’ve written everything from reports to magazine articles, blogs to short stories. I write mostly at the kitchen table, picking up a pen, thinking, ‘What if…’ and seeing where the story takes me.
When I’m not writing or looking after my son, I run a freelance proofreading business Marie Campbell – Proofreading. I also love to read and do so wherever and whenever I can.