LOCAL AUTHOR'S NEW BOOK GOES ON SALE IN THE SHIRES

The first romantic novel in a trilogy written by Southwick grandmother Linda Dowsett has just been published.

The Enchanted Glade is now on sale at Waterstones in The Shires Shopping Centre in Trowbridge, where Linda will be signing first copies on July 17.

The novel is also available on Waterstones’ website and copies can also be obtained by contacting Linda direct.

Linda, 63, of Hollis Way, is well-known in The Shires where she and her husband Gordon have been Mother Christmas and Father Christmas for many years. She had her first novel published in November and has quickly followed up with her trilogy.

The Enchanted Glade, which is set in the early 1800s, tells of Lady Cecilia Templeton and Lord Alexander Kingsley and is full of challenges and set backs, but eventually, as in all good romantic novels, love conquers all.

Linda, who has five children and 18 grandchildren, has had several jobs over the years, including owning her own business, Silhouette Fancy Dress Hire, from 1990 to 2002.

She has been part of the Southwick community for more than 30 years, baking biscuits cakes for the village fetes and sewing costumes for the Southwick Entertainers Group as well as taking part in pantomimes and summer plays.

In December, Linda appeared on BBC television quiz show The Weakest Link and although she didn’t win, she really enjoyed meeting the show’s presenter Anne Robinson.

Linda is now putting the finishing touches to The House at Green Hollow, the second in the trilogy, and the third will be Lady Annabel’s Secret which will be published in 2011.

The publishers of Linda’s first novel, Memories Are Made Of Love, was an American company but her trilogy is being published by Thumbnail Media based in Blind Lane, Southwick.

“I wanted to keep everything more local this time around and I’m delighted to support a company closer to home,” said Linda. “I’ve also used Heron Press in Westbury and I’m pleased with the result.”

The 244-page novel is available in paperback priced at £10.99 from Waterstones’ website or can be obtained direct via email from Linda on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it