Author finally sees his novelpublished after ten years

AN author has finally seen a novel published a decade after completing the work.

South Yorkshire writer Peter Tuffrey has written dozens of books covering a vast spectrum of factual topics and usually drawing on his large archive of photographs of the county and surrounding areas, but Angel From the Gutter is a venture into creative writing.

“All my books, without exception, have been factual, However I have always been drawn to creative writing,” said Mr Tuffrey.

He studied Fine Art at Leeds University, including writing, with some of his work being performed at Leeds Playhouse, with Richard Beckinsale appearing in one projection.

His novel is set in a mid-1990s northern town with a coal and rail industry, named Donfield and bearing similarities to his home town of Doncaster, following the exploits of a comedian who experiences an increasingly volatile personal life. “Behind the brash and comic exterior, recurring mental difficulties turn his life upside down,” said Mr Tuffrey.

Most of Mr Tuffrey’s previous titles have been self-published and he faced a struggle to find a publisher willing to take it on.

He had no agent and although a publisher was positive about the novel, they declined to take it without an agent’s involvement.

However, he had relied on a female comedienne friend while researching the book and eventually ended up in a dialogue with her agent as a result of his job as area manager for a guitar retailer.

A decade after the story was written, he was impressed with the words and provided the encouragement Mr Tuffrey needed to get the book into print himself.

“It was the first book he had read in five years so I realised it takes something half decent to grab his attention,” said Mr Tuffrey.

“He encouraged me to publish the book which I have finally done. It’s been a very interesting journey and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“Who knows? There might be a book in it.”

Angel from the Gutter, which contains explicit language, is available direct from the author (8.99 plus 1 post): Peter Tuffrey, 8 Wrightson Avenue, Warmsworth, Doncaster, DN4 9QL.

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