S5 EP 3: From Housing Officer to Crime Fiction & Women’s Fiction Author (More than 1.8 million books sold) Mel Sherratt

Mel Sherratt grew up in Stoke and never believed she would actually ever be an author, even though she loved escaping into books. She worked as a housing officer and saw real-life in a way she’d never forget. This would later inspire the story lines in her books. After years of submitting to agents hoping to get a traditional publishing deal, Mel decided to do it herself and publish her own novels. After the first year she had sold more than two hundred thousand books. Agents came to her and she had the book deal she’d always wanted.Her books have now sold more than 1.8 million copies. She writes crime books under her name and women’s fiction under the pen-name of Marcie Steele. She has had book deals with Thomas Mercer, Bookouture and Avon. But now, in another Next Chapter Mel has decided to publish her latest book Broken Promises by herself again, using everything she has learned during her years in the traditional world.Mel’s story has been such an inspiration to me – especially on the days when rejections came in from agents and you feel nobody will ever want to read your stories. But Mel shows us there is always another way, whatever your Next Chapter may be.To find out more about Mel and her latest book Broken Promises released today (!) : https://melsherratt.co.uk/And of course you can keep up to date with me here (just in case you've forgotten) https://www.elliebarkerwrites.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenextchapterbyelliebarker.substack.com