Galway woman’s debut novel aims to follow in famous footsteps

Fifty Shades of Grey began its life as a self-published e-book only to go on and sell 100 million copies.

It has never been easier to get your book out there and the race is on to emulate the success of EL James by amateur authors making their tomes available online.

Described as erotic romance, The Fifty Shades trilogy was published episodically on a website for fans of the Twilight series. After comments about its explicit sexual nature, James removed the story and published it on her own website, FiftyShades.com, renaming her protagonists Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.

Split into three parts, it was released as an e-book and later a print on demand paperback in 2011 by an Australian virtual publisher. Sales of the trilogy grew by word-of-mouth and it was picked up by Vintage Books for re-release a year later.

It’s all a world away from the self-confessed “ordinary lady from Glenamaddy”, Marcella Gemmell, whose novel, Fate, Hope & Love – has been released on Amazon on the same week the Fifty Shades movie hit the cinemas, starring Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan.

“I know it’s not quite Fifty Shades of Grey volumes, but it is a massive achievement for me,” she mused.

“I have written hundreds of verses but this is my first attempt at a story. This book is a simple love story based in Galway City and Connemara, two places I’m absolutely passionate about – it’s nothing like 50 Shades; she’s on a completely different level.”

The story follows Jessica, a 28-year-old single girl who lives and works in Galway City but is originally from the Aran Islands. It joins her on her journey of life, love, friendship and family.

“It is called ‘Fate, Hope & Love’ because sometimes in life one of these will bring you happiness, other times, as in Jessica’s case, it might just take all three,” she reflects.

“I hope people enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Those who have read it this week say they especially like the way it describes Galway City and the Aran Islands as it is uncommon in modern fiction. I hope it does our city justice.”

While fans of Fifty Shades may not exactly get their erotic kicks in Marcella’s love story, she does promise that it contains more than a little romance.

“I’m a hopeless romantic. I actually wanted to know what happens to her in the end – I know that sounds daft. But it’s all about the trials and tribulations of that age group. She’s been hurt in the past and is reluctant to trust anyone.”

So how much of the story is based on the author’s life?

Other than a stint in Scotland where she met her hubby Ian and time studying as paramedic in Dublin, Marcella has spent most of her adult life working in Galway City, for the multinationals Digital, Nortel and HP.

Since 2006 she has been back in Galway working as a paramedic.

After a summer in Inishmore, she has returned four or five times a year ever since, winter and summer, still captivated by the beauty of the island.

It was at night time over three months that she wrote the novel, which she describes as her “down time” from running a busy household with two teenagers.

“My family didn’t even know I was thinking of submitting it. It was my husband who kept saying to me you should send it somewhere. This is a really nice story,” she revealed.

“I didn’t know my grandfather, but a couple of my neighbours have said that he was a great writer and story teller, people used to come to hear his tales. Even learning that has meant this is worth it.”

Marcella will hold two launch evenings, one in Gleeson’s in Roscommon Square and the other in Talent’s Hair Salon in Terryland, which is mentioned in the book.

The book is available on Amazon Worldwide and on Amazon Kindle.