News In The Hebden Bridge List

Todmorden Writer's Debut Novel Receives Praise

‘RELIEF,’ the first novel of Todmorden writer L.E. Butler, has been called “a promising debut” by the Historical Novels Review and “marvelous” by the journal Just About Write. Curled Up with a Good Book says “Butler has written a rich, dense first novel that envelopes the reader in early 20th-century Venice… Butler’s narrative is full of layers that she slowly reveals to the careful reader.”

Relief started life as a distraction for Lauren as she started writing to pass the time recovering from an injury.

“I was laid up for a while after a car accident in 2003. I couldn’t dance and was suddenly at a loss so started writing short stories. Then I started writing Relief in short stretches and took it from there. It took a long time to research and about 18-months to write.

“I’ve found it’s quite difficult to pigeon-hole Relief: it’s a mystery romance but without the traditional romantic ending.”

And now Lauren has nearly completed her second book, which she has been working on for the last two years.

“My second book also has dancers in it. This time the action is based on the anarchist movement of a hundred years ago and takes place in parts of Europe, Boston and Oregon.

“I hope to have it finished in the next few months and then I’ll look for an agent in the UK.”

When she is not researching and writing about the early twentieth century Lauren works in social housing and translates documents from Russian, an influence which is evident in Relief. She moved to Todmorden nine months ago.

“I love it here. I married a man from Todmorden, Alan, and he’s a writer as well. It’s good having a writer as a partner as he knows what it’s like and he understands when I need to disappear for days to write.”

Relief can be ordered through book stores or online.

Click here To Visit L.E. Butler’s Website