Wigan author hopes fans will enjoy sequel

A mother-of-two inspired by praise for her debut novel put pen to paper once more to write a sequel.
Author Kathryn Peek with her debut novel and, inset, her new bookAuthor Kathryn Peek with her debut novel and, inset, her new book
Author Kathryn Peek with her debut novel and, inset, her new book

Kathryn Peek fulfilled her life-long ambition last year by publishing her first book, after leaving her career as a legal secretary to spend more time with her family.

Entitled I Called Him David, the book was self-published last summer using the pen name Antonia K Lewis.

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It told the story of Louise, a 47-year-old divorcee from Wigan who decided to track down the man she fell in love with while on holiday in Newquay 30 years earlier.

Kathryn, who grew up in Pemberton and now lives in Lowton, was delighted with the response to her book.

She said: “It was good. Considering I haven’t got an agent and it wasn’t with a big publishing house - it was all done by self-publishing - it went down well.

“I wasn’t paying for advertising and I have a limited circle of where I can distribute it, but it went down really well. It was recommended by a friend of a friend and was recommended by George Michael fans too because it mentions him. It got good reviews too.”

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Kathryn, 48, always planned to write a sequel and decided to go ahead when she found people had liked it.

“It’s terrifying when you first write one and wonder what people will think, especially people you know, but everyone said how much they enjoyed it,” she said.

“When you read the feedback, especially from people you don’t know when it’s anonymous reviews, it does inspire you.”

The sequel is named Your David, My Dave and picks up where the first book finished.

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It looks at the relationship between Louise and David, as well as telling the story of his estranged wife Suzanne.

Louise’s best friend Kirsty also returns, having proved to be a fan favourite.

Kathryn said: “Everyone said they wanted a friend like Kirsty.”

Kathryn hopes readers in her hometown will enjoy her second book just as much as her first.

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She said: “The main character Louise is a Wiganer. I’m not referring to every place around Wigan, but it is told as a Wiganer would tell it. Someone told me they could hear my voice as they read the story.

“There’s a mention of the River Douglas and there might be other references too.”

Kathryn’s new book went on sale on March 30 and she is submitting it to agents in a bid to be selected by a publishing house.

She is also starting to plan her next novel.

She said: “I’m leaving these characters behind for a little bit.

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“Because I have spent a lot of time over in Greece and I have a million stories from there, quite a lot of it is on a Greek island. I have this better planned than the last one so hopefully it won’t take as long.”

Your David, My Dave is available as both paperback and e-book from Amazon.

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