So, I’ve written a novel. The title is “Sophie’s Throughway.”  Now whilst I have every intention of promoting my book in all the usual, relentless marketing ways, what I want to do first is explain to you the reason I wrote this story. 

 

I embarked on this novel a couple of years ago as part of a global and personal challenge.  After which, I left it alone despite people telling me I should publish it.  Eventually, I decided that would be a good idea and set about editing it and getting it to the publisher I wanted to use.

 

The story is refreshing in that it deals with Asperger syndrome and the effects that has on people.  Now most books I have read on this subject have been either factual or novels from the view point of the person with Asperger’s or other.  In my story, it deals with the affect this has on the family which is all too often unnoticed.  

 

I believe that people are generally frightened by the word ‘Autism’ and usually associate it with extreme behaviour patterns such as “Rain Man,” the film in which Dustin Hoffman plays an autistic savant. This is not always the case as the autistic spectrum falls under a large umbrella with varying degrees, each person having individual qualities and social difficulties of their own to contend with.  In the case of my story I am dealing with a teenager who has a biting intellect coupled with a controlling manner which causes countless disruptions in a society which is, more often than not, unaccepting of such behaviour.  Whilst we all like to think we are humanitarian and forgiving, in my experience we all tend to be a lot lot less tolerant than we might lead people to believe. 

 

The story follows the plight of a woman called Sophie who has to juggle her life around to accommodate the effects Asperger’s has on her marriage, her family, her work and her daughter.  It highlights the day to day struggles that families have to cope with; sometimes just getting through a 24 hour period can be an exhausting and emotional battlefield.  I hope this novel can shed light on people living in these circumstances and help others to understand the trials that come their way, the sacrifices they are forced to make and sometimes the crutches they use to keep them sane.

 

  The novel is around 200 pages in length so around the same length as “The Great Gatsby” or “Animal Farm” or “A Christmas Carol.”  It is not an epic and it doesn’t have to be. I don’t believe a story has to be a saga to make an impact.  Whilst the novel relates a lot to the aforementioned subject it has romantic mystery, rollercoaster events and is often quite comedic. The cover came third place in the quarterly book cover awards and is meant to highlight the protagonist, Sophie, with a head full of wonderful mess.  Despite the cover being quite feminine, this story has been read by many males who have engaged with it well.  I urge you guys not to judge this book by its floral design and to embrace your feminine book cover! 

 

My strengths lie in getting a message across in a storytelling fashion and I feel as a writer that I am able to engage the reader and leave them feeling the intended emotion. Those of you that have read my short stories and follow my blog know that I’m not afraid to reach deep within and yank those feeling out, whether it’s uncomfortable or not.  If I can manage to give comfort to those living in this situation and at the same time bring awareness to others with this heart warming tale, then I have done my job.

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you will support me and tell everyone you can about “Sophie’s Throughway.”

 

The book is available in paperback and as an Ebook from 28th September 2015 and can be ordered from the

following bookstores and outlets:  Waterstones, WH Smith, Amazon, Troubador.

 

Paperback ISBN: 9781784623852

EBook ISBN: 9781784625849