Doris is back as author pens novel sequel
AYOUNG author who was inspired to write a book based on the people he meets while volunteering for a charity has published his second novel.
Charles Heathcote, 25, wrote his first book, Our Doris, when he was 22.
‘Indisputably Doris’ is the sequel, and continues the adventures of Mrs Doris Copeland, which was inspired by the characters he had made while volunteering at Age UK in Poynton.
Charles, who lives at Danes Square with mum Cathy, dad Andrew, brother Andrew and sis- ter Jessica, said: “My love of comedy came from a healthy diet of Last of the Summer Wine and Dinnerladies as a child.
“I wanted to write a book about older characters because I feel as though they’re often misrepresented in literature and onscreen.
“Last of the Summer Wine showed older characters living their lives and that is something I wish to do in my fiction. I have been quite lucky to receive such a good response to Our Doris with many readers saying as they know someone like her.”
Charles, a former Macclesfield High School and Puss Bank Primary School student, added: “I always intended to con- tinue the story of our Doris, and had a plan of how the story would go.
“However, I ended up taking a break from my writing after the first book and in doing so the story transformed.
“With the first book I had been too afraid to include certain plot points as I worried they would be too dark for my readers.
“But with this book I realised that there were topics I needed to discuss and allowed myself free rein to do so.”
He added: “This second book sees our Doris fighting for her place as chairwoman of her town’s WI.
“Partridge Mews is quite heavily based on Macclesfield and the sur- rounding area. I wished to discuss some serious themes such as class and our attitudes to the older community whilst keeping the comedic flare.”
Charles has a degree in creative writing from Manchester Metropolitan University and is the secretary of the Macclesfield Creative Writing Group.
Charles toured the first book around North West libraries and is set to do so with the second.
A book launch will be held at Macclesfield Library on Thursday September 28, from 2pm4pm, where Charles will read excerpts from the book and selling copies.
You can also order copies from Waterstones and Amazon.