Look Both Ways

Salma leant forward and readjusted the rear view mirror whilst applying her cherry pink lipstick. Now seated in the driver’s seat she started the engine, her driving licence in her purse. Confirmation of a political editing post lay on the passenger seat. Yes, it had taken three years but she was proud to be behind the wheel. Briefly lost in her reverie, she recalled her journey to reach that point. Monumental changes had only strengthened her resolve to pursue her dreams, whatever the cost.

Fiona Ballard grew up in Hampshire, Dorset and Malaya. Family travels exposed Fiona to a plethora of cultural experiences giving her life changing skills and independence. Her writing experience began with a gift to enter a writing competition after her retirement from the NHS resulting in some positive feedback from the judges:

“The story had voice and used vivid descriptions to bring it to life.”

Her creative writing development to date includes:

www.ballardsbookshelf.com

Membership of the Portsmouth Writers Hub

Completion of Procrastinators, Beginners and Dreamers course

The Novelry Blogs with Creative Writing workshops

Member of Good Housekeeping Book Club

The potential audience for Look Both Ways might be found under drama/mystery or similar genres to Louise Candlish or John Boyne. It’s a gritty adult fiction read, full of facts but with a human story woven with threads that will resonate with many women across a global audience. Fiona has had first-hand experience of living within a multi-cultural family and this has only served to enhance her writing.

To date she has had three short stories published in anthologies and written six short stories that are collated as an eBook and paperback publications. Part of her childhood was spent living in Malaya, which has been the recent inspiration for her second book, a semi-autobiographical called Taking the Bandage. The next novel, Inscription, is due for release in spring 2023.