A former King Alfred School student has launched a steamy novel this month described as ‘daring, funny and thought-provoking’.
Rebecca Stone, 42, who has the pen name of Becky Walsh, has written ‘Cupcakes and Coffee’ which has been hailed as a cross between between ‘Bridget Jones’, ‘Eat Pray Love’ and ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’.
Based loosely on real life adventures, it follows the sexual escapades of Sam, fast heading towards 40, who moves from London to San Francisco and begins an unlikely fling with a younger man.
The book, from Bristol-based Silverwood Books, is a remarkable achievement for an author who is dyslexic and keen to prove the condition is no barrier to writing a novel.
Growing up in Burnham-On-Sea and a former pupil at Highbridge’s King Alfred School, Becky moved to London to attend the Central School of Speech and Drama and then carved out a career in theatre production and travelled widely before becoming a self-development coach in Bristol.
She says these experiences helped with the book, which she began writing after a ‘light bulb’ moment.
“I suddenly realised there was room for a new kind of genre – a fiction book that has a big dollop of steamy sex, but with a more serious social commentary about what it is to be a woman in the modern world,” she says.
Her background in show business, working as a stage manager and in radio, also proved inspirational. “A lot of people say the book has great characters and I think that comes from absorbing a lot during rehearsals in theatres like the Royal Court in London.”
“Years ago I also shared a flat with comedy actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost of Shaun of the Dead fame, and seeing them as Hollywood stars inspired me to follow my own dream of writing a book.”
Although Becky chose to write under a pen name, to make a clear distinction between her writing and her other career as a self-help expert, she said there were crossovers.
“I wanted to create a book that was an enjoyable read, while posing some interesting questions about sexual liberation. In my other career I have worked with many people like the characters of Sam and Nat in the book, who don’t want to miss out on love, yet haven’t been able to find it.”
Cupcakes and Coffee is now available from online booksellers, including Amazon by clicking here. The book will be officially launched at Boston Tea Party in Whiteladies Road, Bristol on February 5th at 7.30pm when a San Francisco themed Cupcakes and Coffee party will be held with performers and readings from the book. More details are available here – all welcome.
