A WOKINGHAM author will talk about her new novel, Delphy Rose: The Girl Who Wrote Songs.
Tina MacNaughton, who is also an acupuncturist, will share her thoughts on writing and take questions about the book.
She said: “I’m still in the 80s in terms of the songs I listen to, and this book takes a nostalgic look back then.
“Growing up at that time, there was so much music, people would just pick up a guitar and start playing in a pub.
“Everyone at school was in a band.”
Delphy Rose is set in the fictional seaside town of Cowlington, against a backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain.
Young, working-class teacher Delphy meets bass player Ben, and they begin a turbulent relationship that triggers past traumas for Delphy.
Recalling happier times as member of a local post-punk band, The Thistles, she tries to work out whether Ben might be the key, if not the answer, to healing her past pain.
“There’s quite alot of talk currently about the nature of coercive relationships,” said Tina.
“They’re powerful, yet subtle.
“And at a time when women are working things out for themselves, it seems appropriate to write about the subject.”
Tina wrote her novel just before the pandemic, and used lockdown to produce and publish it.
“My work as an acupuncturist was paused,” she said.
“For three months, with a clear diary, I took the opportunity to write poems for my clients.
“The feedback was really positive, and I ended up having a collection of them published.”
This was closely followed by an illustrated children’s narrative poem.
“The pandemic made me more creative, and I haven’t stopped writing since,” she said.
“I’ve been entering competitions, and winning a number of them.
“But I have long wanted to write a novel with a 1980s music background, and I’m so pleased to have finally done it.”
Signed copies of the book can be purchased for £11.99 (cash only) at the event.
It will take place at Wokingham Library, on Wednesday, July 5, at noon.
There is no need to register, and people can just turn up.
For information about the author, visit www.writerhymespoetry.com
Delphy Rose is available from Reading Waterstones, or online from: www.troubador.co.uk
