Willenhall author Gemma Todd talks debut novel release

Now Gemma Todd's debut novel has been published to great acclaim – and has just been added to the shelves of her library van.

The 34-year-old is still reeling from landing a six-figure sum for a four-book deal from one of the biggest publishers in the country. But she loves her job so much, she still drives the bus. "I'm just a working-class girl from Willenhall. The craziest thing I've done is go part-time," she said.

Her love of stories developed at Willenhall Comprehensive School where she would read between eight and 10 books every week.

"We didn't really have books at home, so when I discovered the school library, that was it," she said. "I think I'd read every book in there by the time I left."

At the time her father Gerry had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and her mother Veronica was also suffering ill heath. "Reading was a massive form of escapism during a bit of an awful time in my life. Books transported me. I'd spend hours, lying awake, thinking about putting myself in the stories."

She went on to study ancient and medieval history at the University of Birmingham, chiefly because the course included archaeological expeditions to exotic places like Italy. "It was a delaying tactic – a career in ancient history was not really a viable option."

Becoming a librarian, however, clearly was. She started off by working in Walsall's branch libraries before passing her HGV test and taking to the road at the wheel of the borough's library-on-wheels.

It wasn't until five years ago, following her father's death that her thoughts turned seriously to writing books instead of just reading them. "I felt it could happen to me next week, and I might never get this chance to do this."

Her success in such a competitive market is remarkable, particularly with a first novel. Defender, an imaginative thriller, written under the pen name GX Todd, was taken up by Headline, owned by Hachette, second only to Penguin Random in British publishing.

A review in The Guardian said Defender was 'lifted way above other novels in the over-subscribed post-apocalyptic subgenre by Todd's sympathetic characterisation and superb pacing.'

Modestly, she claims to 'pretty much mimic' the books she loves to read. "There's a three-act sequence which I picked up but although it's a basic formula, I don't write in a spread-sheet sort of way like some writers. For me it's much more organic."

Headline has commissioned a further three books, which will be written on her days off from driving the mobile library to schools, care homes and other designated stops around Walsall. Giving up her job was never an option for Gemma.

"I'm very hermit-like," she laughs. "If I didn't come to work, I'd probably never leave the house." Nor does she want to cut herself off from the source of her stories. She regularly squirrels away an idea or a line of dialogue to use after a chat with a lender.

"This book wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for this job," she says. "Being surrounded by books, having conversations every day about these creative worlds, it's really important to me. People come out with these golden nuggets of truth, and it's great. Everyone is different." The first person to borrow the book when it arrived on the van was one of her regulars, Donald Hitchman.

"He said 'Seriously Gemma, I don't have the words, I'm so impressed. I see you every week, I just didn't know you had it in you."

She plans to take a photo of everyone who borrows the book, although if her writing career continues in the way it has started, that could become impractical.

For the time being she is trying to enjoy the moment. It felt good to be able to treat her brother Andrew, a postman and father-of-three, to a new car, and to pay to have her housebound mother's bedroom redecorated. She bought herself some new Lego.

Her mother is also enjoying the thrill of having an author in the family. Mrs Todd recently rang her local library, at Warstones, to check whether they had got Gemma's book. "She's my daughter," she proudly told them.

Gemma said: "Once you get over that euphoric moment, you realise how much work you've got to do. But you have to stop stressing and enjoy the moment. I remember looking round at the books on the van and thinking 'One day, if I work hard enough, I could be one of these authors' and now I am. I sign books at Waterstones, it's mad."