Local actor, poet, author and playwright Laura Liptrot (pictured) is publishing her very first novel, Dreamcatchers, with Tenebrous Texts and is co-hosting the book’s launch on Wednesday 13th November.
Dreamcatchers is the first in an epic space-fantasy-romance series entitled The Garden of Time.
On the industrial planet Gunigan, far away from earth, Adam and his best friend Robyn are about to learn a truth that will change their lives forever. Growing up in a slum, Adam had ambitions as high as the stars, but believed himself to be nothing special. However, still a child, he is about to learn that his is the grandson of the king of an almighty empire whilst his birth mother is half-human! He must tackle the political and moral minefield of his new world as well as learn many things about his own identity.
As respite from the duties of being prince, Adam discovers a magical land called Harroway and a mysterious guardian called Owyn. In his friend’s cottage, Adam will hear many things about his secret past that will place his entire existence in the balance. Meanwhile there are monsters outside the mind to deal with and many wondrous worlds to explore. Yet all adventure comes at a cost, as Adam and Robyn will soon learn, and what waits on the other side of that portal?
Laura began novel writing at the age of 11 with this very story. In 2018 her first full play was produced and in 2023, she self-published four poetry anthologies. This year, her work has been picked up by the well-respected publishing house Tenebrous Texts who published her fifth anthology in the summer and is now proud to present her debut novel! Further to her writing, she is known locally as an actor of stage and screen as well as making regular appearances at various open mic events.
Laura says:
“The main character is a side of me I always kept hidden away. My friends Jade Hartley, Katie Victoria, Tom Carter and I used to play games about aliens, magic and other words. We made characters for ourselves...mine was a man named Shadow. As time went on, we stopped playing those games but wrote stories about them instead. I gave him a life, history, children, passions and at some point realised that I was simply writing about myself. His influence spills into everything I create because he is basically me.”
Dreamcatchers, which is Laura’s debut novel, is published through Tenebrous Texts and will be launched on Wednesday 13th November 2024 at 6.30pm at Dudley Library, St James's Rd, Dudley DY1 1HR.
Photo Credit: Phil Buckley
