List Of Writers

BARRETT–LEE, LYNNE

Mobile: 07881 624765
Tel/Fax: 029 2074 7912
Email: lblduchess@aol.com
Website: www.lynnebarrett-lee.com  

Novelist. Born in London in 1959, Lynne moved to Cardiff in 1994 where, having completed a degree with the Open University, she trained as a teacher and has been writing ever since. Her first published article was in TES, October 1995. Since then she has had fiction and non-fiction published widely in magazines, including
Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Weekly, My Weekly, Take A Break, Woman, Best, Chat and the Sunday Express Magazine, as well as literary fiction for the small press. She wrote her first novel, Julia Gets a Life in 1998, and has been a full time novelist ever since. Lynne also guests regularly on BBC Radio Wales, and writes a weekly column for the Western Mail Saturday magazine. She is a full member of Academi.

All of Lynne’s books are contemporary romantic/relationship comedies. New editions of backlist titles were re-issued in 2007 include Straight on Till Morning (January), Julia Gets a Life (April) and Virtual Strangers (October). Her latest novel, Out on a Limb (Accent, 2007), was published in June 2007.

Reviews:

Of Julia Gets a Life (Bantam, 2000):
"…Wonderfully funny and inspiring - I enjoyed it hugely…"
Judy Astley

Of Virtual Strangers (Bantam, 2001)
"…A charming and optimistic novel about modern love…"
Hello Magazine

Of Straight on Till Morning (Black Swan, 2004)
"...Will have you glued to its pages..."
OK Magazine


Selected Publications:
As Lynne Barrett-Lee:
Julia Gets a Life (Bantam, 2000)
Virtual Strangers (Bantam, 2001)
One Day, Someday (Black Swan, 2003)
Straight on Till Morning (Black Swan, 2004)
Secrets (Quick Reads) (Accent Press, 2006)
Barefoot in the Dark (Accent Press, 2006)
Out on a Limb (Accent Press, 2007)
 
As Daisy Jordan:
Wild About Harry (Bantam, 2005)

Contributed to:
A Day to Remember (Quick Reads) (editor) (Accent Press, 2007)




Julia Gets a Life (Bantam, 2000)

Forget all that stuff about finding the inner child; it’s sexual healing Julia Potter is after when husband Richard strays from the marital bed. The one he’s been playing in belongs to Rhiannon (North Cardiff single mum, siren and witch). He’s sorry, or so reads his Post-it apology, but, as he says, ’Its so hard being a man’. But Julia’s not ready to forgive or take up handicrafts quite yet. Re-styled, re-vamped and re-acquainted with hair gel, her new mission statement is ’Up’. Unfortunate, then, that where sex is concerned, the only ’up’ she can manage is up the wrong tree. But at least Julia’s photographic career is back in focus. And it isn’t long befor she’s swopping her teletubbies and tripod at Cardiff’s Time Of Your Life Photo Studio for the slinkier lines of a low-slung black pentax - the better to zoom in on the more mature torsos of Kite, Britain’s megastar number on band. But while Julia’s finding out who put the ’Mmm...’ into mega, has her marriage to Richard gone into freefall?

To purchase this title from amazon.co.uk, please click on the front cover



Virtual Strangers (Bantam, 2001)

Fed up, frustrated and fast approaching forty, Charlie Simpson hasn’t had many high points in her life just lately. The only peak on the horizon is her ambition to climb Everest, if she could only get organised and save up the cash. Unfortunately, though, she has more pressing things to deal with; her eldest son moving out, her father moving in, and her best friend moving two hundred miles away. She finds solace, however, via her newly acquired modem, when she stumbles upon a stranger who’s a like-minded soul. Like-minded, perhaps, but no fantasy dream date. Though virtual, he’s of the real-life variety - he may be a hero, but he has a wife. Charlie hasn’t got a husband, but she certainly has principles, and they’re about to be hauled up a mountain themselves. And, of course, her mum’s always said she shouldn’t talk to strangers. The question is, is now the time to start breaking the rules?

To purchase this title from amazon.co.uk, please click on the front cover



Straight on Till Morning (Black Swan, 2004)

"...It was then that it struck me, with terrifying clarity. I was going to die at any moment. I was going to die, moreover, in a pair of tartan pyjamas and a grubby black cardigan. For whatever was attached to the headlights in front of me was driving on my side of the road…" So begins Sally Matthews’ date with destiny. She doesn’t actually believe in destiny, of course - she’s way too busy looking after her husband, arranging her step-daughter’s wedding, and humouring her mum-on-a-mission (which involves Tony Blair). No surprise, then, that she’s out late at night to pick up her teenage daughter with nothing but a dog and a cricket bat for company. In short, Sally hasn’t time for a near-death experience. However handsome the man about to run her off the road...

To purchase this title from amazon.co.uk, please click on the front cover



Barefoot in the Dark (Accent Press, 2006)

When Hope Shepherd loses her trainer while boarding the 8.42 into Cardiff, Cinderella couldn’t be further from her thoughts. Painfully divorced, she’s all out of daydreams - and it’s not a glass slipper, after all. It’s picked up, however, by a Prince Charming of sorts – DJ Jack Valentine, who’s just been divorced too. He appeals on his show for the owner to come forward; a  latterday princess being just what he needs…Hope works as a publicist for the charity, Heartbeat, and is encouraged by her boss to get Jack on board. A celebrity endorsement is exactly what they’re after, to raise the profile of their upcoming fun run. So far, so good; a fairytale beginning – their mutual attraction’s just too strong to ignore. But this is the real world, and these are two damaged people. With both of them determined not to risk another heartbreak, is a happy-ever-after an impossible dream?

To purchase this title from amazon.co.uk, please click on the front cover




Eligible Writers on Tour subjects offered:
1. Readings from both novels and short stories
2. Creative writing workshops/ talks on novel writing skills
3. Motivational talks for aspiring writers

AGE RANGE: Adults/ sixth form