Author shares her pilgrimage experiences in print

Marilyn Parkes-Seddon is the author of one previous title ‘The Jonquil’ in 2019, which is about a yacht based on the Channel Islands.

Her newest work ‘Seeking the Scallop Shell’ is set to be published on October 21 and covers her time travelling with husband Malc.

One chapter is devoted to St Edmund Arrowsmith of Ashton-in - Makerfield as well as other locations arounds Wigan, including in Standish and Bryn.

Marilyn, who now lives in Scotland in the village of Waterbeck after living in Poolstock and Standish for many years, said: “Although I now live in the Scottish Borders I was born and brought up in Wigan.

“After university I returned to work in Wigan where I spent 25 years as a manager in the council social services department.

“It was high-profile job and involved working closely with local people.

“To this end there may be people who remember me.

“After finishing work because of ill health my husband and I moved to Scotland where I hoped a quieter lifestyle would be conductive to my recovery.”

She said her move to Scotland provided her with the opportunity to fulfil a long-held ambition to write.

It started in 2019 when her first novel published, while at the same time, she embarked on a long awaited odyssey which took more than two years.

She travelled along with Malc to 22 places of pilgrimage across the UK.

And she said the whole experience proved fascinating on many levels including spiritually.

This inspired Marilyn to decide to write a journal of her travels and this has become the book due to be published which she hopes will be widely read.

She said: “Each chapter is a separate pilgrimage and describes the places, journey, people I met, scenery as well as telling a story of the pilgrim site with insights into the saints, and the history of pilgrimage especially in the dark ages and medieval

times.”

She added: “I’ve always wanted to write over many years, so it’s exciting to publish another book and hopefully it will be widely read and get good reviews.”