Audio Factory is currently collaborating with actress Angela Bell to record the audio book version of Aston Bay’s first title ‘A Means Of Escape’, written by Joanna Price. Here’s a synopsis:
A grizzly and cold November morning. Detective Sergeant Kate Linton is called to Glastonbury Tor where a young woman has been strangled. Twelve holes are found at the scene, surrounded by wax, evidence of garden flares – the only connection to two other unsolved cases. When another young woman and a TV celebrity go missing, Linton is in a race against time to find the serial killer before he strikes again. But, when her journalist ex-boyfriend is singled out as a chief suspect, Linton feels that events are heading a bit too close to home. A Means of Escape presents an intricate, gripping mystery plot, combined with a focus on the heroine’s personal life as she juggles an unwelcome attraction for her good-looking and charismatic superior with her efforts to become closer to her estranged family.
Hopefully that whets your appetite. Stay in touch with audiofactory.co.uk for updates about the audio book and samples will be posted in the coming weeks. For now, if you want to know more about the author and some information on where you can buy the book then please read the article below.
Article taken from The Basis magazine, written by Carly Dutton:
Joanna Price from Street is a part-time copywriter, mum of two and has now launched a career as a novelist. Speaking of her decision to start writing a novel she admits, “I love writing and it’s always been my dream to see my name on the cover of a book”. So she decided to set herself the challenge of writing a novel and getting it published.
Being a fan of crime fiction herself, Joanna had no trouble deciding in which genre to write. Her three book series follows Detective Sergeant Kate Linton as she investigates sinister and often gruesome murders in Glastonbury. The first in the series of psychologically driven police procedurals, A Means of Escape was released in November.
Offering advice to others who are interested in writing Joanna says, “Getting the publishing deal was a mix of hard work, perseverance and luck. I sent my first book off to a few agents; a couple showed interest and asked for the full manuscript but ultimately rejected me. It was only after I acted on advice from literary consultant Lorena Goldsmith that the book really came together. Following her comments I amended the book and sent it to an agent, Annette Green, who signed me up. It showed me how important it is to have feedback when you’re writing, however negative, otherwise you’ll never improve”.
By then Lorena Goldsmith had set up her own publishing house, Aston Bay and from her previous experience with Joanna’s books she approached her agent and offered to buy a three book series of crime fiction novels. Lorena recalls, “I first encountered Jo’s writing as a literary consultant at Daniel Goldsmith Associates and I instantly recognised that I was dealing with one of the most talented new voices in crime fiction. Kate Linton is a terrific heroine – brave, charismatic, intelligent – and part of the series’ appeal is seeing her deal with the dark, disturbing events around Glastonbury while struggling to keep in control of her own personal issues”.
Joanna also credits a creative writing course she took at Strode College in helping her to improve her writing skills. Joanna speaks of course tutor Maria McCann, “she’s a great teacher and offered a lot of valuable advice and encouragement”. It is clear that Joanna has taken it on board and never looked back.
The local community should be proud of what Joanna has accomplished and her success proves that with hard work, time and dedication, local writers who aspire to have their work published can make their dream a reality.
The Kate Linton Series will be published by Aston Bay across hardback, paperback and ebook and A Means of Escape is already available on www.amazon.co.uk. Joanna’s second book of the series, Eeny Meeny Miny Moe is set for release in 2012 and the third in 2013. (www.thebasismag.com)