Julie’s debut novel Solstice gets rave reviews

Julie Comiskey admits she has been feeling “a little nervous” as her book Solstice launched on December 12, timed to fall just before the winter solstice on December 21.

Julie said: “It has been a baptism of fire during which I have had to learn a lot and hone the craft of writing”.

The project, which took four years, began at a point when Julie was out of work. A journalist with a background in print and broadcast, she had been involved in the production of several documentaries when work dried up.

“I was doing some research, when I came across the whole concept of the winter solstice. It intrigued me and within half an hour I had a plot in my head and ideas for characters.”

Julie is an inspiration for those who struggle with dyslexia, for as an adult she herself was diagnosed.

She said: “At first I thought only people with good spelling and grammar could write books. But in spite of my dyslexia, I have always had a passion for writing. I’ve always loved words and the way they can touch you, and wondered could I ever achieve that.”

Julie has always lived in Banbridge and says the local area has influenced parts of her book. It was also a friend and local graphic designer, Barry Rooney, who produced the striking cover. She has now started the second book in the trilogy and is delighted with the feedback so far. The book is available to download from Amazon Kindle or follow on twitter @solsticetrilogy.