King's Lynn author publishes debut book

A dream to write and publish a book has come to fruition for an author from King's Lynn.

Michael Church, born and bred in Lynn has penned a collection of short stories with a twist called Tall Tales.

Taking his inspiration from the works of Roald Dahl and his series of Tales of the Unexpected, this is not his only inspiration in publishing his first stories.

Michael said: "I loved books, reading and writing and I did well at English at school.

"My English master at Alderman Catleugh school, now Springwood, Mr Beaumont encouraged me to write and I wish I'd carried on.

"He is no longer with us and I wish he was, I would have liked to have told him what I'd done.

"He'd encourage, he was good but very strict."

The process of writing the book and self publishing it derived from a number of events happening.

He said: "To get published down the traditional route is a long process as a first time author.

"In 2019 I had a boating accident and smashed my hip and split my pelvis in two.

"With three and a half months in hospital and rehab I started writing poems about it.

"But I was frustrated with it as I couldn't express fully what I wanted so thought why not write a short story with more freedom of expression.

"I came up with this short story and had a long recuperation which extended in to the lockdown so had a lot more time on my hands.

"So I filled it with writing these short stories with a twist."

The outcome for Michael has been a self published book of short stories which is available to buy on Amazon and the achievement has been a cathartic one for him.

He said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed it and people who have read them said they were good, well they would, friends and relations, but I couldn't go by that.

"I approached copy editors and sent a couple of samples who said the stories were well structured, well written and very little wrong with them.

"It gave me the confidence to publish then and what worked in my favour was the life I've lived, a life of experience and I was able to draw on those and write."

The 15 stories all differ, with a twist at the end and the author has, over the last 30 years coped with mental health issues.

He said: "It was very beneficial writing it therapeutically, it gave me a kind of release.

"I want to spread the word that despite mental health problems you can still do things.

"Other times I was so ill I just couldn't write.

"I am not ashamed or embarrassed by it as mental health affects one in four people at some point in their lives.

"Maybe they just need to read about it to give them the confidence to talk about it.

"It has all been positive so far and it's something I've wanted to do, to write a book.

"I am still writing and I also have got maybe another book in me."

Now that really would be a positive twist.

Tall Tales With a Twist is available in paperback via Amazon here or by placing an order with the author Michael Church on 07395 157836