Best Selling Books by Lynne Barrett-Lee

The abridged, junior edition of the story of Able Seacat Simon, beloved hero of the high seas. A must for Michael Morpurgo fans! When an orphaned kitten is discovered in the Hong Kong docks in 1948 by a British sailor, he has no idea of the journey that awaits him. Smuggled onto HMS Amethyst and named ''Simon'' by his new friends, the little cat quickly gets used to life on the seas and appoints himself chief rat-catcher. When tragedy strikes, Seacat Simon keeps spirits up - but it''s a long and dangerous journey back to England for the heroic kitten and his crewmates . . . Inspired by real events, this is the story of ''Able Seacat'' Simon''s adventures and heroics in dangerous wartime seas, as told by the cat himself!

The Moon Under Water By Lynne Barrett-Lee What would you do if you suddenly discovered that your husband had been lying to you for years? Happily married, with two teenage sons, Alex Taylor considers herself lucky. And when she hears her childhood friend Cathy has died, she finds herself counting her blessings. She’s also surprised that she’s been left a bequest. They lost touch with one another almost twenty years ago. Why would Cathy remember her now? She really can’t imagine but she’s about to find out, because she’s been left something else – something that changes everything. It’s a letter confessing to the two year affair Cathy had with Alex’s husband, Sam. ‘But it’s history,’ he entreats. ‘It’s long over. It meant nothing.’ Surely Alex can forgive and forget? Should she? And can she? She’s not at all sure. But it looks like she won’t be allowed to. Because it seems Cathy’s left them a third thing as well. A teenage daughter. Who wants to come and find her father. The Moon Under Water is a novel about secrets, and the ripples that spread when they are suddenly exposed. It’s also about how betrayal not only re-writes the past - it has the power to also re-write the future...

Headteacher Holly Connors is pinching herself. Dream job, dream life and the dreamiest fiance (her wedding to whom is mere months away). But dreamers often find themselves rudely awakened, and Holly is - by one tousle-haired pupil, Harry Meadows, who''s been going off the rails since his mum died. holly knows he''s hurting and she knows about loss, so before she can say the words ''professional detachment'', she''s made a ten year old''s happiness her number one priority, despite knowing it will disturb a few ghosts of her own. It''s easier to understand the child if you look at the parent, and Harry''s dad, Will, seems more feckless than most. He''s grieving too, if he''d only admit it, but seems determined to deal with his loss by himself. Mostly, it seems, by disappearing off to work, leaving Harry with a string of au pairs. Despite Will''s insistence that it''s none of her business, Holly''s sense of responsibility towards Harry means that she can''t just walk away. But when professional detachment turns into emotional investment, Holly begins to worry; is this just about Harry? Or should be taking a closer look at herself?

On a Saturday morning in May 1980, Melanie Bowen, a pretty fifteen year old, ran down the stairs of her parents’ home in Port Talbot, grabbed her leather jacket and crash helmet, yelled a goodbye, and then walked out of the front door into the sunshine for what was to be the last time in her life. Never Say Die is the true story of what followed...

Can one day change your life? For Lu Fisher, ex-french teacher and fraught single mother, one day is pretty much like another: typing, translating, making endless cups of coffee…oh, and daydreaming about finally giving up her dull temp job and going back to college and her first love, studying art. Nights, however, are quite a different matter. Particularly those that involve the delectable Stefan, who tutors the local evening class on impressionist painters, and who is making a serious impression on Lu. But one day is about to change her life. The day on which her irascible boss, Joe Delaney, breaks his arm in an accident and writes off her car. He’s sorry, of course, and yes, he’ll get her a new one, but in the meantime she needs transport and he needs a chauffeur. Simple, he says. She can drive his car instead. No matter that his Jaguar costs more than her house. Or, indeed, that Lu knows he’ll drive her up the wall.. One Day, Someday is a clever, funny novel about that time in a woman’s life when dreams begin fading and princes – handsome or otherwise – are getting thin on the ground. Lu’s always rather hoped that hers would show up someday – trouble is, that someday has been so long in coming, she’s not altogether sure she’d even spot him if he did… ‘An absolute joy to read‘ – Jill Mansell ‘A sassy comedy of romantic errors‘ – Cosmopolitan magazine ''Chirpy, readable and very inspiring'' -- Woman''s Own

Fed up, frustrated and fast approaching forty, Charlie Simpson hasn’t had many high points in her life just lately. The only peak on the horizon is her ambition to climb Everest, if she could only get organised and save up the cash. Unfortunately, though, she has more pressing things to deal with; her eldest son moving out, her father moving in, and her best friend moving two hundred miles away. She finds solace, however, via her newly acquired modem, when she stumbles upon a stranger who’s a like-minded soul. Like-minded, perhaps, but no fantasy dream date. Though virtual, he’s of the real-life variety – he may be a hero, but he has a wife. Charlie hasn’t got a husband, but she certainly has principles, and they’re about to be hauled up a mountain themselves. And, of course, her mum’s always said she shouldn’t talk to strangers. The question is, is now the time to start breaking the rules? ''A fantastic book that gets you hooked from the first page'' New Woman ''It''s wonderfully funny and rather inspiring...I enjoyed it hugely and I confess I read it all in one go, wolfing it down like a delicious box of chocolates'' Judy Astley ‘A charming and optimistic novel about modern love’ – Hello Magazine ‘A laugh out loud read’ – Real magazine ''I absolutely loved it - hooray for Julia! this is funny, original, well-written and unguessable - I had no idea how it would end. It also has the very best closing paragraph I''ve read in years. Completely wonderful, dazzlingly entertaining, unputdownaable'' Jill Mansell

When her eldest son leaves home, Abbie decides to make some life changes, Only her mother tends to get in the way.

Two sisters get `ghostly'' calls from a stranger while housesitting.

Have you always wanted to write a novel but not known where to start? Then you have come to the right place. In Novel: Plan It, Write It, Sell It the prolific Lynne Barrett-Lee outlines the secrets of her craft. It has never been easier to get your work out into the world. But if you want real commercial success then you also need to learn the tricks of the trade. Step-by-step, Novel takes you through the key stages to creating a global blockbuster. The author of more than ten novels, including hits such as Julia Gets A Life, Lynne Barrett-Lee answers the key questions every aspiring author needs to grapple with. How do you make you book unputdownable? How do you develop memorable characters? How do you build effective plots and sub-plots and how do you engineer the perfect twist. How do you write convincing dialogue that zips off the page. Barrett-Lee gives you expert guidance written by an insider. If there is a book burning inside you, then this is the place to start. Lynne Barrett-Lee is a full time novelist and ghostwriter and has co-authored over thirty Sunday Times bestsellers. She has also penned two writing guides, both published by Lume, based on the creative writing courses she teaches in Cardiff. Lynne''s latest work of fiction is a psychological thriller, Can You See Me?.

"September 15th 2007 is a date that will stay with me always. For it''s the day that Paul, my late husband and father to my seven children, decided he''d had enough of the life he had created for us all, and took himself off to the woods on the edge of our property, and fatally slashed his neck and arms." When Vikie Shanks met Paul, he seemed to be everything a girl could ever want. Handsome, attentive, caring and musically gifted, he felt like the antidote to all the bad things that had happened in her life. Vikie had had a deeply unhappy childhood, and it had scarred her. Sexually abused by her eldest brother and dominated by a violent father, her childhood ended with the death of her mother when she was just sixteen. Unravelled is the story of Vikie''s life with Paul. Of the years in which his behaviour and mental state became ever more erratic. Of his casual cruelty, his spying, his inexplicable and sudden rages. Of his growing obsession with having more and more children, and of naming them according to a precise set of rules. How, over a period of years, he all but gutted their family home, tearing down most of the internal walls and removing almost everything but basic furniture, while simultaneously creating a secret home for himself, made out of plywood, in what used to be a shed. Of his secret diaries - the tens of thousands of entries he made, documenting every minute of every day. After his death, it would be these writings that would provide such compelling evidence of what further tragedy might have happened had he not made the decision that he did that fateful morning. Because whatever was wrong with him was like a ticking bomb that even Vikie hadn''t properly heard; it seemed he''d spent time planning to kill the whole family.

''It was then that it struck me, with terrifying clarity. I was going to die at any moment. I was going to die, moreover, in a pair of tartan pyjamas and a grubby black cardigan. For whatever was attached to the headlights in front of me was driving on my side of the roada'' So begins Sally Matthews'' date with destiny. She doesn''t actually believe in destiny, of course - she''s way too busy looking after her husband, arranging her step-daughter''s wedding, and humouring her mum-on-a-mission (which currently involves Tony Blair). No surprise, then, that she''s out late at night with nothing but a dog and a cricket bat for company, for her teenage daughter needs picking up from a friend''s house, and picking up is what mothers do best. In short, Sally hasn''t time for a near-death experience. However handsome the man who''s about to run her off the roada But destiny is no respecter of circumstance, and Sally finds herself picking up something else too. Not an illness, but the lingering image of a stranger. His name is Nick Brown and though she doesn''t yet know it, he''s about to turn her whole life upside down. ''STRAIGHT ON TILL MORNING'' is a novel about infidelity and about falling in love when you really don''t mean to. Funny, yet poignant, this is the story of one woman''s journey through the longest night of her life.

Born the third of eight children into a life of rural squalor in a farming community in the south of England, Faith Scott''s infant world is already more challenging than most. Bewildered by the bizarre and cruel behaviour of her mother and terrified by the violent outbursts of her perpetually angry father, the only certainty in life is that there is none. So when Granddad ''Pop'' gives her sweets and does the horrid things he does to her, how is she to know that isn''t what all granddads do? And if it isn''t, why does her mother find it funny? Told with honesty and courage, this is the story of a little girl who never stood a chance - who was regularly abused in the most shocking ways by her family and preyed upon by the worst kind of men. Faith went on to have two children in her teens and endured appalling domestic violence but now, after all the suffering, she has turned her life around. Her decades-long journey out of the darkness tells the truth about what happens to abused children when they grow up, in a story that''s horrifying and compelling in equal measure.

A hilarious and romantic novel about a woman who leaves her philandering husband to embark on a very alternative voyage of self-discovery.

The heart-breaking but inspiring story of a mum - and her legacy of enduring love. Childhood sweethearts, Ian and Angie wanted nothing more than a big family. But eight children later and aged just forty-eight, Angie fell seriously ill. When she was told her illness was terminal, the welfare of her family became her only focus. Raising that many children would be a big job for any couple; to raise them alone, without their mother, was a superhuman task for Ian. But this was exactly what Angie wanted him to be able to do. So, in the last months of her life, Angie compiled a list of ''rules'' to guide Ian in the future: from lunchbox favourites to bedtime rituals and favourite lullabies, Angie''s manual gave Ian the strength and certainty that he could fulfil her wishes when she was gone. Mum''s Way is an inspiring, if heart-rending, story of love that lingers long in the memory. Bound to stir emotions, it is above all life-affirming and uplifting. Praise for Mum''s Way: ''If I don''t see this book in the best-seller lists I will be very disappointed. I read a lot and have not been so moved in a long time. I often give books away when I have finished with them - but not this one!'' - Amazon review Ian Millthorpe, Angie''s husband, wrote Mum''s Way with Lynne Barrett-Lee, who is a novelist, short-story writer and ghost-writer based in Wales.

Julia Potter macht mit ihrem streunenden Ehemann kurzen Prozess, nachdem er fremd gegangen ist.

In 2006, Dave and Christie Nasser welcomed a Great Dane puppy into their lives - the runt of a litter of thirteen who won over the hearts of his new owners with his soulful blue eyes. They named him George and he swiftly changed their lives. In February 2010 George was officially crowned tallest dog ever by the Guinness Book of World Records. Standing at almost five feet tall and seven feet long, George has come to dominate the Nassers'' home. Yet George is a big softie - a gentle giant frightened of water, of dogs a fraction of his size, and of being left alone. This is the full heart-warming story of Dave and Christie''s life with George - his likes and dislikes, his diet, habits and quirks.

A modern day Cinderella story unfolds when radio DJ Jack Valentine finds a lost sneaker on a train station platform.

By the time she was in her twenties, Tess Swan had moved into a squat and become addicted to heroin. Unable to maintain social relationships, and suffering terrible mental and physical health, she gave birth to two children she couldn''t care for. After later being diagnosed with Hepatitis C and the total collapse of her relationship with her daughter, Tess was at rock bottom. Enter Kratu, Tess'' unexpected canine saviour who changed her life. Born on the streets of Romania, Kratu was destined for a life of hardship, that was until Tess decided to adopt him and bring him home. Together they have gone on to achieve amazing things, overcoming multiple obstacles such as Tess''s diagnosis with Autism, bringing joy to each other and everyone they meet. Tess''s determination and Kratu''s lovable energy have warmed the hearts of many, including the crowds of Crufts, where Kratu was a runaway success.

The riveting account of a girl who was abandoned in the jungle and lived among monkeys In the early 1950s, in a remote mountain village in South America, as a small girl Marina Chapman was abducted while picking pea pods near her home. Her kidnappers then abandoned her deep in the Colombia jungle, and for approximately the next five years she lived with a troop of capuchin monkeys, eating what they ate, copying what they did, and gradually becoming feral. Eventually, she was taken from the jungle by a pair of hunters and sold as a slave to a couple in the town of Cucuta who beat and tortured her. After she managed to escape, she spent several years as a street child before being taken in by a family of criminals. Finally, a sympathetic neighbour arranged for her to go live with her daughter in safety in Bogota. The Girl with No Name tells this spellbinding story in vivid detail-from the enchantment of the shady garden where Marina was kidnapped to the dappled darkness of her jungle home to the hunger, poverty, and pain of her existence in Cucuta. The book also offers a rare and fascinating glimpse into the world of capuchin monkeys. This is a unique and inspiring story of abandonment, despair, and eventual happiness.

Autobiografisch verhaal van een vrouw die als peuter in de jungle belandt en wordt opgenomen door een troep kapucijnerapen.

Life is what happens when you''ve made other plans, and Lu Fisher has recently made quite a few. Freed from a career she never really wanted, Lu plans to revisit the dreams of her youth and study art.

London, 1963. Angela Patrick was 19 years old and pregnant. Being under 21, she was still under the governance of her parents, strict Catholics who sent her to an imposing-looking convent for unmarried mothers. At eight weeks, her son was taken away from her and put up for adoption. 30 years later, he contacted her and a reunion was arranged.