TIVERTON author and poet Pam Reed has been awarded a publishing contract from American company WiDo Publishing for her fantasy novel The Torcian Chronicles.

Reed, a member of the Tiverton-based Twyford writers, and the Tiverton Poetry Society, had previously written poetry but wanted a new writing challenge, and so a two year ‘labour of love’ resulted in a finished and polished novel.

After only four months of searching, she was given a publishing contract that will see her novel on sale next year, leaving her ‘delighted and very surprised.’

Pam Reed said: “I had prepared myself for a year of rejections and read about the rejection letters of famous writers such as JK Rowling, so I would not get too upset at the avalanche of rejections!”

The Torcian Chronicles is set in the magical land of Torcia, where warlocks and magicians abound.

“This story chronicles the adventures of Mesham, the last of the great Torcian magicians and his ill-assorted companions and their desperate, almost suicidal mission, to save Torcia from subjugation and death under Mivirian rule.”

The idea for the story came to Reed as she was pondering what to write one day over a cup of tea and Belgian tiffin slice, when a ragged warlock flashed into her thoughts.

“He was sitting dejectedly in a tiny garret above an inn, as his forces suffered yet another defeat at the hands of their all-powerful enemies,” Reed reflects.

“I could smell the smoke and see the fear in his eyes, I thought what’s going to happen to him, and suddenly the whole story unfolded before me, writing itself.”

WiDo Publishing submissions editor Allie Maldonado found the fantasy novel ‘fascinating and exciting’.

He said: “P.J. has written a tale of depth and intrigue, complex but not confusing, with multi-faceted characters you can absolutely cheer for.

“She does an excellent job of giving her characters life and variety, and I kept reading as much for them as for the plot.

“Pretty amazing for a first novel, it’s a great foundation for a series.”