Exeter author unites with UK writers to lift lockdown spirits
Local author to launch first fiction book
Bestselling author and breast cancer survivor, Emma Davis, 41, from Exeter, is set to launch her first fiction book as part of an extraordinary collection of short stories, ‘Connections’- which brought together 23 writers from across the country during lockdown.
Spearheaded by award-winning book publisher, Fuzzy Flamingo, ‘Connections’is a captivating short story compilation originally created to provide professional and amateur writers with an escape from the reality of lockdown life, using writing as a tool to get them through difficult times. It will launch on 23rd April on Amazon.
The mum of two, and bestselling author of ‘Take my hair (but not my humour): One mum’s journey seeing off breast cancer’, relished the opportunity to turn her hand to fiction writing for the first time and said:
“I believe there is a storybook in everyone. You don’t need to have it all mapped out, or feel overwhelmed at the thought, you just need to start. That’s where the magic happens. My story ‘Stop wishing, start doing’ is inspired by my travels following university in my twenties.”
“People ask me how I find the time,” said Emma. “In all honesty, writing is my self-care time. In 2019 I was happily ticking off my ‘forty things at forty’ bucket list when out of the blue I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly my young family’s summer was turned on its head. Cancer has taught me not to wait, to seize opportunities.”
Jen Parker, Founder of Fuzzy Flamingo and Designer and Editor of the book, said: “Writing and reading have both always helped me in difficult times. We started this project in the second lockdown and I wanted to give people across the UK a project they could have fun with and feel like they were doing something just for them – as a lot of us are not prioritising ourselves much during this time.
“We had an overwhelming response to the call out for fiction writers and a lot of the authors used the writing process as an escape. I didn’t give the writers a brief for their fictional stories but as the submissions came in, it was clear that everyone was writing about the relationships we make – which I found interesting given that relationships were something we had to sacrifice during lockdown.
“I wanted to give the authors a boost in confidence, show them that writing a book doesn’t have to be a daunting process and create a great book that will help readers escape their troubles too. The beauty of short stories is that you can just pick it up for short breaks and escape the daily grind for a few moments.”
‘Connections’ includes an eclectic collection of captivating stories written in a variety of genres from sci fi to romance to steam punk to thriller. Each tale explores a unique take on the different type of relationships we make – whether fleeting or lasting a lifetime, happy, sad, monumental or fanciful.
The 23 talented professional and amateur writers featured in the book were from all parts of the UK – from Stevenage to Stockton-on-Tees, to Leicester to Lancashire. From full-time writing professionals to full-time mums battling home schooling, each writer has created a unique story to take you from your cosy coffee shops to the stars and back again.
The ebook will be on sale for £1.99 for launch day on 23 April 2021, before returning to full price (£4.99) the day after. The paperback version will be available from Amazon on 30 April 2021 priced at £9.99.
