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Journalist finds Write Factor for book award

A regional journalist has come up with a winning formula – swapping facts for fiction.

North Wales Newspapers’ feature writer Rhian Waller’s debut novel has hit the bookstands as well as taking The Write Factor Shortlist Award for 2014.

Rhian, who works on NWN’s Leader series, wrote Eithe’s Way as part of a Creative and Critical Writing PhD at Bangor University’s School of English.

The 29-year-old’s book, which follows the journey of a young woman who runs away from domestic abuse, has already won critical acclaim.

Lorna Howarth, The Write Factor’s founding editor said: “Rhian has a precocious talent that belies her years. She writes with great wisdom and has a way with words that makes one hopeful that this is the first of many great novels.”

Rhian, who is about to be awarded her PhD, said: “I studied at Bangor University as an undergraduate in Literature and Creative Writing, but I trained and qualified as a journalist to support myself while doing the course.

“Writing news and features is a very different discipline to writing fiction, whatever anyone might say, but both demand a clear style and a good command of language.”

“I’d like to thank the staff at the Leader for their support, and for being understanding when I came in red-eyed after pulling an all-nighter during the final edits.”

Grimsby-born Rhian, who earned a first class honours degree and won the John Danby prize for the best graduate at the School of English in 2007, is also a part-time lecturer in further education.

The book is available on Amazon now as well as Kindle.