Macclesfield author nominated for New York book award
A woman from Macclesfield is jetting off to the States, after being nominated for an international book ward.
Marianne Ratcliffe, who has lived in Macclesfield for 14 years, is heading to New York on June 11.
This is because the author has been nominated Lambda Literary Award for her most recent book A Lady to Treasure.
Her latest novel is in the running to potentially win in the Lesbian Romance category.
Macclesfield Nub News met with Marianne to find out more.
""I am grateful for everyone who has read A Lady to Treasure, supported it, and left a review online", said Marianne.
"The book is set in 1812, and stars American heiress Louisa Silverton, her father only cares about money and he has brought her up to believe the same.
"She had a strange upbringing where the only thing that made herself happy was numbers. But instead of giving her a role in his company, the only thing her dad wants her to do is go off to England and get married to a rich husband.
"But then she meets the honourable Sarah Davenport, a British daughter of viscount, who is trying to save the estate of her family. And a romance evolves from there, which makes them realise there are more important things than money.
"Closer to home, I've had some great support from Waterstones in Macclesfield for both my books."
Marianne, who is originally from Gainsborough, now could gain the title of an award winning author.
She used to work as a scientist for AstraZeneca, and now does medical communication writing on the side.
Writing books is now her primary focus, and her next book she is currently penning, just so happens to be set in New York. (Perhaps she will get more inspiration when she visits in June.)
Marianne's previous book was shortlisted for an award, but she hopes she can go one further with her latest title. However, she is still grateful to simply be nominated.
The Lambda Literary Awards celebrates LGBTQ+ stories, and features authors nominated from across the globe.
A Lady to Treasure took Marianne two years to write.
"I wasn't going to go to New York at first", added the west Macclesfield resident.
"But my supportive partner pushed me to go, and it might not happen again.
"I like New York, I've actually been there before and my next book is set in 1880s New York.
"I like writing books set in the past for escapism."
The local author's influences for her award-nominated title include Jane Austen and Welsh novelist Sarah Waters.
"The good thing about the Regency era is that there was not much homophobia," revealed Marianne.
"The book is quite old-fashioned in the way it [the language] was written, which for me adds a layer of authenticity to say 'this is how these characters might have interacted'."
Marianne would be open to a big screen adaption of her award-nominated novel.
"My family and friends have been really supportive," said a grateful Marianne.
"My parents have been wonderful. My dad goes to his church in Poynton, and hands the book out.
"I say to him 'you know it is about lesbians, right?' But he keeps banging the drum for me, so bless him.
"My publishers Bellow Press have been amazing too."
But the award fame has not gone to Marianne's head, with a modest next goal of getting A Lady to Treasure in Macclesfield Library.
According to Statista, there were estimated to be approximately 114,900 authors, writers and translators working in the UK last year.
If you'd like to learn more about Marianne, you can head to her website, where you can also buy the award-nominated book and her other previous release. The book can also be bought on Amazon, as well as Macclesfield Waterstones.
Macclesfield: You can find more about the awards on this link.
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