Move inspired author to pen her first novel
AN author who grew up in Stockport before moving to Wales has drawn on her experiences for her debut novel.
Remember No More by Jan Newton tells the story of Julie Kite, a newly-promoted detective sergeant whose husband’s new job takes her from inner-city Manchester to a new life in tranquil mid-Wales.
On her first day she is unexpectedly thrust into the centre of a murder investigation in a remote farming community, forcing her to confront her own demons alongside those of her new community.
Jan, 58, was born in Middleton. Her family then moved to Mellor, Stockport, when she was 11 and she went to school in Marple.
She also lived in New Mils, Chapel en le Frith and London before moving to Wales around 12 years ago.
She and her husband Mervyn met while they were both working for BASF in Cheadle and they have been married for 30 years.
Jan says she has always wanted to be a writer, penning her first novel at the tender age of seven.
“It was about the space race at the time,” she said.
“The teacher asked us to go home and write an essay about it and mine filled 14 exercise books. Then I got into horses and that was it for a while!
“I later did an Open University degree in creative writing, followed by a master’s degree at Swansea University, and I absolutely loved it – it was amazing.”
She says it was moving to Wales that gave her the inspiration for the novel.
“It is so different to Manchester,” she said. “It is incredible, and there are so many places to tell people about.
“I have written short stories before and I didn’t know if I could write long, but as you get to know your characters it starts to flow. It’s like reading, but better.”
The novel is being published by Honno Press, which concentrates on the work of women of Welsh descent or connection, and will come out on March 16.
It will be available in the shops and online as an e-book, and has already been named Book of the Month for April by the Welsh Book Council.
Jan said: “It is a really exciting time. I’m used to just writing in my shed so it is quite strange being in the limelight.”
For more information see jannewton.net.