Debating whether or not a best selling book was actually any good or not, Julie Peel was made a challenge that she couldn’t ignore.

After releasing her debut novel "Janie’s Journey" last week, the Laxey-based author revealed that she was bet by a friend that she couldn’t write her own book.

’It was just after "50 Shades of Grey" came out, and I thought it was really badly written!’ said Julie.

’I was chuntering on about it, saying "how on earth can someone become famous by writing something so bad", and a friend of mine basically challenged me to see if I could do better.’

Julie, a maths and English teacher, had always had the ambition to write, and so accepted the challenge.

’I’ve always wanted to write,’ she said.

’I originally wanted to write a children’s book, but I struggled with the imagery with it.

’So I sat down and, instead of watching soaps every night, I wrote a book.’

"Janie’s Journey" is told in retrospect, by a woman in her 50s preparing for her wedding day.

’She is reflecting back on how she got to where she is,’ said Julie. ’It is her journey of her life, and is tale of her relationships with men through the years.

The main character, Janie, becomes emotionally detached after a succession of failed relationships and heartbreaks early in her life. Then a chance encounter makes her take stock and re-think her own lifestyle.

’There are hiccups all the way along, and there is nothing straight forward,’said Julie.

’But in the end everything in her life comes full circle.

’The idea of the circle is represented by the full moon on the front of the book. It is a symbol that I thought was very fitting for the front cover.

The book contains some strong adult scenes and dialogue, and Julie admits that writing "Janie’s Journey" is a far cry from wanting to write a children’s book.

She released it under her grandmother’s name to save any confusion between her writing and her job.

’I hadn’t written anything before this,’ she said, ’only essays.

’But, as an English teacher, I obviously have a passion for the written language. And, as you work with pupils, you learn so much about your own writing.

’When this first copy arrived in the post, I still couldn’t believe it had all happened.

But it just shows that, even with a full-time job and grandchildren, you can still do something like this. You just have to get out and write.’

Now that the writing bug has grabbed a hold of Janie, she intends to write more. Her next will be a murder tale set on the island, which Julie hopes will be released next year.

"Janie’s Journey" is available through Amazon books.

by Mike Wade

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