‘Surprise’ new chapter for Lynn
An author from Bath has had her debut book published in a surprise career change.
Lynn Griffin was born and bred in Bath and now lives in Trowbridge with her husband.
Her debut novel, Secrets, Shame and a Shoebox, has just been released after she wrote it in January 2020.
Lynn has many other stories stashed away that she has written over the years. She retired a couple of years ago and is now embarking on a whole new career.
Lynn said: “I never thought it would happen as I retired with the plan to trek around the world. When I was offered the contract I couldn’t believe it.”
Lynn previously worked in an adult social care team in Wiltshire. She was travelling in Spain in January 2020 when she finished the novel. She was hoping to travel the world but when coronavirus hit her plans had to change.
Originally Lynn wasn’t going to share her story with the world but after a pep talk from a friend, who told her that life is too short, she took the leap.
Lynn said: “That was the bit that kind of clinched it. She said I needed to get it out there before I popped my clogs. I thought it was a fair point.
“I started looking through the Writers’ Handbook and sent out a few enquiries and I couldn’t believe actually somebody wrote back and said, ‘Yes, we’re interested’!”
Lynn submitted her story to a New York publisher that she liked the sound of. Twelve months on she had a contract and now her book is published.
She said: “It’s everywhere, I can’t believe it. My husband said to me that you can get it through WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon, Kindle. It seems to be spreading right across the world and I can’t believe it.”
When Lynn originally wrote and submitted the book it was way above the word count so the publishers advised she split the book in two.
Lynn is now using half of the original book to write the prequel to her first book.
She said: “It’s just a bit of a shock actually.
“I’ve got quite a bit on the shelf that could be looked at and used and that’s what publishers quite like. Let’s see how it goes. It has been a complete surprise.
“I didn’t expect any of this to happen and it’s like I’ve got a whole new career again.”
It’s been a total gear change for Lynn, who was a social care worker before she retired.
She said: “The volume of paperwork and communication with lots of different emails. I must get about 50 to 60 emails a day. The other thing that is hard is having a new group of friends and colleagues who are all authors and trying to keep up with the marketing side of things. That’s not my bag.
“It’s a whole new ball game. I’m quite a shy person really, you wouldn’t believe it but I am. But my daughter has been absolutely terrific. She’s been doing a lot of publicity for me. She has just been an absolute superstar. I don’t know how she does it.”
Secrets, Shame and a Shoebox follows the story of Harriet Laws, who loses her grandmother and her job and her happy life in London seems over.
Fate steps in as Tom Fletcher saves her, gives her hope, and guides her to new employment. Harriet begins to fall for Tom but CJ Rutherford, a handsome, wealthy antique dealer, has been viewing Harriet from a distance.
Harriet is now on a journey she could never have imagined in her wildest dreams and her life changes beyond all recognition.
The mysterious tagline for the book is: “London 1950s and everyone has a secret.”
Secrets, Shame and a Shoebox was released on July 25 and is available to order from Amazon, WH Smith and Waterstones.