Persistence was the key in a local author getting her latest novel written and published.

Rachel Bennett released her book ’The Flood’ during September, shortly before the recent Manx Litfest.

The novel is a tense and claustrophobic murder mystery, set in a partly-deserted village, which is cut off and left partly submerged by a recent flood.

Its takes a murderous turn for the worst when Danielle returns to her family home and finds her sister’s body.

She knows that, with the floodwaters blocking the roads, there will be no help coming her way soon.

She also realises that the killer must also be trapped in the village too.

The book has already been received favourably by reviewers, who have described it as a ’really atmospheric and fast-paced thriller, full of twists and excellent characterisation’.

’The Flood’ is a bit of departure for Rachel, who ventured into new territory for this book.

’I have had three other books, which were horror stories, published under the pen-name Rakie Keig, but this is my first thriller,’ said Rachel.

’I didn’t think I would be very good at murder mysteries, as I just want to tell people who it is right at the beginning.

’Learning how to not give the game away at the start was a challenge.

’But I have always loved the "enclosed areas" scenarios, or the locked room-type of story, where you have a small area and a small cast of characters who are in all together in a very claustrophobic environment.’

Rachel is part of the team behind the Manx Litfest, and she decided one year to take some of her new ideas along to the popular Writer’s Day, where prospective authors offer their books to visiting literary agents.

’Over the space of five years, I was continuously told that my ideas were good, but I should go away and work on it again and again,’ she said.

’I finally came up with this story, which received wonderful feedback.

’That gave me the confidence to submit it widely to other agents, and eventually one of them picked it up.

’However, I don’t think I would ever had got the confidence to get to this stage without the boot up the bottom that Litfest gave me.

’It is very encouraging to have the chance to hear good and bad things about your writing,’ she added.

’I have been very inspired by the likes of Elizabeth Brooks and Rona Halsall, who have had their first books picked up through meeting agents at the Writer’s day.

’Obviously I am pretty biased, but I think that Litfest is doing some pretty amazing work in helping to discover local authors.’

’The Flood’ is published by HarperCollins, and is currently available as a download only, priced 99p.

It will be released as a paperback book later this year.

by Mike Wade

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