Crawley Author’s Debut Release Tells A Gritty Personal Story

13 November 2019
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Crawley Author’s Debut Release Tells A Gritty Personal Story

An author from Crawley, the victim of an indecent assault more than two decades ago has put pen-to-paper to in her debut published novel which is inspired by her devastating event. Released last month, Stalker is a gritty and atmospheric novel which tells the story of Eve Harding who is attacked on Sunday morning, but leaves the reader guessing who in the novel is watching?

Mum of two, Gemma Rogers, 39, who lives Worth, and works part-time in the energy sector wrote Stalker last year which has now been published – her debut published novel for the keen writer. Explaining the story behind the story, Gemma describes how Stalker is born out of a harrowing experience she went through 20 years-ago when she was indecently assaulted at knife point.

Gemma says she has been writing for many years on-and-off but wrote her first complete novel in 2016 which she sent to agents, but she got many rejections, before she decided to write something else. This prompted her to explore her experiences and write the novel, Stalker, where the main character Eve seeks her attacker in a way which leaves the reader guessing, who is watching who.

Speaking about Stalker, she says: “I wanted to look at that from a slightly different perspective, obviously from the victim, but also the feelings it evoked – the rage, the self-pity, the guilt and disgust. How far would someone go to protect others from the same fate? To get revenge for one of the worst crimes imaginable where justice hadn’t been delivered?’

“Writing it (Stalker) has been cathartic for me, allowing me to lay some old demons to rest and I’m very proud of what a devastating event has been turned into” Gemma adds.

As her debut book hits shelves, publisher, Boldwood Books has already signed Gemma for four novels and the next one, of which the title is to be confirmed, will be released in January 2020.

Speaking about challenges of being an author as well as working part-time, and being a mum, Gemma says: “Time, and a distinct lack of it. I’ve got two daughters, aged 11and eight and obviously where I work part-time currently, fitting in time to write comes in the evening or at weekends but I truly believe that it’s a compulsion.”

Adding about the writers who inspire her work, Gemma says: “I’ve always written as a way to blow off steam, to enjoy an imaginary world where I can run riot. I love reading, my favourite authors that I draw inspiration from are Alex Marwood, Mark Edwards, BA Paris, Ruth Ware and CJ Tudor. I enjoy dark, twisted tales that knock me off my feet.”