A Stevenage mother who bounced back from being made redundant to follow her dream of being an author has earned a publishing deal.

The Comet: For All Our Sins by Stevenage author Tania Walsh.For All Our Sins by Stevenage author Tania Walsh. (Image: Archant)

Tania Walsh, of Darwin Road, took up writing full time after she lost her admin job amid the recession in late 2008.

Seven years on and after many rejection letters, the 31-year-old has her first novel – a thriller called For All Our Sins – published in eBook format on Thursday.

“I’ve had enough rejection letters to paper my wall with, but it’s important to remember that when one door closes, another door opens,” said Tania.

For All Our Sins, set in a fictional city in Hertfordshire, follows DCI Claire Winters as she investigates the murder of a priest in his church.

Tania, who has lived in Stevenage all her life, says that Comet readers will recognise some of the local features.

The book, originally released in 2011, has been extensively revised since then. Its re-release follows its successful self-publishing on Amazon in 2013, alongside its sequel The Principle of Evil. Both books appeared on the Amazon Kindle bestselling charts.

The married mum-of-one said: “It’s been an amazing experience working with an editor. She has helped me shape the novel into the best it possibly can be to stand out in such a competitive market. If sales prove strong then in time the books could be released in paperback.

“Perseverance and honing your craft is key. You just have to keep going and grow a thick skin in the face of rejection, and never take it personally.”

For All Our Sins is published by Carina UK – part of Harlequin, an imprint of HarperCollins – and is available from e-retailers such as Amazon.

The second instalment in the DCI Winters series, The Principle Of Evil, is due out early in 2016 and Tania says a third book is also in the works.

To find out more visit www.tmewalsh.com.