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Sophie Duffy is a real find. Sharp as a tack. |
A bit about me
I'm a Devon girl but have recently left my home in Dawlish, the seaside town with a railway train that tends to fall into the sea. Now my three children have fled the nest, I have embarked on a new adventure up north, on the Wirral. I have recently undergone treatment for breast cancer and am now recovering while I contemplate my next novel.
I've had many jobs over the years, including working in Greenwich dole office and pounding the streets as an Avon lady, before becoming a teacher. I specialised in early years in south east London and then in Worthing. I got a bit bored in Sussex and took a creative writing evening class which led to an MA which I did at Lancaster University by distance learning from 2002-2004. I got the writing bug and fell in love with the novel.
My first breakthrough was in 2006 when The Generation Game won the Yeovil Literary Prize as a work-in-progress. My second novel This Holey Life was runner-up of The Harry Bowling Prize in 2008. Finally, The Generation Game won the Luke Bitmead Award in 2010 and was first published by Legend Press in August 2011. It was re-launched in April 2018. This Holey Life was published in 2012 and Bright Stars in 2015, both by Legend Press. My fourth, Betsy and Lilibet was published in 2018. It's the story of two women born on the same day - one is the Queen, the other an undertaker.
My alter ego is Lizzie Lovell and novels are published by Allen and Unwin -The Juniper Gin Joint and The West Country Winery. A theme for Lizzie is emerging maybe?
I am part of CreativeWritingMatters, a writing school based in Exeter, but with international reach, run by the wonderful Cathie Hartigan and alongside Margaret James. We offer manuscript appraisals, mentoring and workshops. We administer the Exeter Novel Prize and the Exeter Story Prize as well as other writing competitions.
I am represented by Broo Doherty of DHH Literary Agency.
I've had many jobs over the years, including working in Greenwich dole office and pounding the streets as an Avon lady, before becoming a teacher. I specialised in early years in south east London and then in Worthing. I got a bit bored in Sussex and took a creative writing evening class which led to an MA which I did at Lancaster University by distance learning from 2002-2004. I got the writing bug and fell in love with the novel.
My first breakthrough was in 2006 when The Generation Game won the Yeovil Literary Prize as a work-in-progress. My second novel This Holey Life was runner-up of The Harry Bowling Prize in 2008. Finally, The Generation Game won the Luke Bitmead Award in 2010 and was first published by Legend Press in August 2011. It was re-launched in April 2018. This Holey Life was published in 2012 and Bright Stars in 2015, both by Legend Press. My fourth, Betsy and Lilibet was published in 2018. It's the story of two women born on the same day - one is the Queen, the other an undertaker.
My alter ego is Lizzie Lovell and novels are published by Allen and Unwin -The Juniper Gin Joint and The West Country Winery. A theme for Lizzie is emerging maybe?
I am part of CreativeWritingMatters, a writing school based in Exeter, but with international reach, run by the wonderful Cathie Hartigan and alongside Margaret James. We offer manuscript appraisals, mentoring and workshops. We administer the Exeter Novel Prize and the Exeter Story Prize as well as other writing competitions.
I am represented by Broo Doherty of DHH Literary Agency.