Cheshire subscriber Dolores Gordon-Smith is living the dream having had her first book published. A Fête Worse Than Death, the first in a detective series set in the 1920s, sees detective Jack Haldean investigating a seemingly impossible murder in the fortune-teller’s tent at a fête. Soon the protagonist unravels a conspiracy with its roots in the Battle of the Somme and faces off against a challenging opponent.

Dolores has vigorously researched the 1920s as well as the First World War to make sure that the book accurately reflect the periods. As someone who is interested in the era and history in general, she didn’t find the research much of a chore.

‘I’ve always been a great fan of detective fiction and love the 1920s world. I really enjoy all the necessary research that goes with writing historical crime.’ She hopes the series will run for a while, if only to make the most of her research!

Dolores has always liked writing and used to work on a Star Trek fanzine. But being a mother to five children meant that for a long time she was too busy to write. When she got more spare time again she found the world had moved on so she decided to turn to another interest – detective novels.

At first it was tricky to get published, but she kept on

‘As the saying goes “the difference between a professional and an amateur is that a professional never gives up”,’ she said.

Dolores found that going to writing festivals and talking to other writers and publishers was invaluable. She also recommends that hopeful authors finish their work before submitting anything.

Eventually she secured the services of agent Teresa Chris to represent her work. At that point she cracked open the champagne, feeling that with Teresa’s help ‘it was only a matter of time’.

It was, and Teresa secured a two-book deal with Constable and Robinson. A Fête Worse than Death (£18.99) is out now, with the sequel, Mad About the Boy? due next year.

She hopes to continue writing the series for the foreseeable future.

And with A Fête Worse than Death flagged as Book of the Month in The People’s Friend, she’s off to a good start.

Website: www.doloresgordon-smith.co.uk