John Righten from Brighton is hoping a film scout will discover his crime suspense thriller, Heartbreak.
Righten has entered the Page Turner Awards, where authors of published and unpublished fiction and non-fiction from all genres can enter their writing for the chance to be discovered by high-profile judges from the literary world. In particular, he is hoping a film scout will be hooked by his story.
Righten has delivered medical aid to orphanages and hospitals across the globe, including Romania during the revolution, South America and Bosnia during the war. He has also worked in over forty occupations, ranging from grave digger, cocktail barman and tree-surgeon, to professional poker player, and is currently employed as a government ‘Transactor’ covering major infrastructure programmes across the country.
Why Heartbreak? Ten years ago, Righten met the children of some close friends of his who had died when their kids were young. He was shocked to discover that they knew little of the extraordinary things their late parents had done. John decided to tell their stories, and those of the “benevolent rogues” he encountered during his many dangerous missions, in his autobiography, The Benevolence of Rogues. These men and women used their wit and guile to deliver medical aid and help save lives. Thirty years later, he wove these extraordinary stories into his thrilling novel, Heartbreak.
Heartbreak tells the story of a young teacher who joins an aid convoy to help Romanian orphans, but when targeted by mercenaries she discovers that her lover holds the darkest of secrets.
Independent reviewers have lauded Heartbreak, saying that it is "Reminiscent of Hemingway," and is both "thrilling and poignant."
Righten would love to have Brighton readers supporting him. You can vote for his book and add any constructive feedback on the story, thus helping him improve his chances of getting noticed by the judges. Residents can vote and comment here: https://pageturnerawards.com/thriller/heartbreak-0
Righten said, “This year, as part of the Brighton Fringe, I’m doing a Benevolent Rogues show in aid of the NSPCC. It will be a night of humorous and sometimes extraordinary stories. If I win the award, I’d love to do a tour of the UK to support the work of the NSPCC whose help is needed more now than ever before.”
The Page Turner Awards, sponsored by ProWritingAid, offers writers and authors the chance to enter unpublished or published fiction and non-fiction books, and where a group of literary agents will read the work. Two writers are guaranteed to be published.
Hopefully, with feedback and votes from Brighton & Hove residents, Righten will be shortlisted or win the eBook Award.
Find out more about The Page Turner Awards: https://pageturnerawards.com. Submissions are open until 30 June 2020.
