Local history Dee

Congratulations to member Dee Gordon whose latest local history title has proved a literal sell-out at its recent launch.

‘I actually sold every single copy I had,’ says Dee, ‘and was holding my breath during the last ten minutes of the launch – at my local library – actually hoping that no-one else would ask for a copy and have to be disappointed; though only temporarily of course...

‘As long as your local library isn’t too miniscule, I would certainly recommend you take advantage of their approachability when it comes to publicising your book – it is one place, apart from bookshops, that is guaranteed to be frequented by real readers!’

The book is Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in and Around Southend on Sea published by the Pen and Sword imprint Wharncliffe Books.

It deals with real-life crime in the area from medieval times to the twentieth century and features highwaymen, witches, murderers and suicides through over twenty true episodes.

Dee approached Wharncliffe as she was aware of a series they were running featuring different areas and Southend had not been covered.

This is actually her third local history book, the previous two being People Who Mattered in Southend and Beyond and Southend Memories from Sutton Publishing (which she was recently surprised to find in her local Asda).

Dee retired at the age of 53 to focus on her writing and complete an OU degree. She writes from 9am till 3pm every day, when her autistic son is at college but continues to check e-mails and research online when he’s home.

She also writes fiction and has had a book Meat Market published by Vanguard Press. She’s also completed work on another My Brother, My Life, which deals with autism. She’s writing a lot of non-fiction at the moment however and is currently working on another about women of Essex.

‘Although I have written, and will no doubt continue to write, fiction, one of the reasons that I enjoy writing non fiction is because there is no need to write the book until you have the contract, whereas with fiction you have to complete the book first... and that can be very dispiriting once those rejections start arriving.’

Details: Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in and Around Southend on Sea, by Dee Gordon (£9.99, Wharncliffe Books), is available now.