Glengormley Mills & Boon author releases first novel

After five years of trying to secure a book deal with the prestigious publisher of romantic fiction, Karin Baine’s medical romance “French Fling to Forever” has hit the shelves of local bookshops in the first of a four-book deal.

Despite not winning the original competition, Karin’s novel made it to the final 10, and she then spent three months perfecting the manuscript with a Mills and Boon Editor.

She told the Times: “I have always wanted to get published and it took me five years.

“I entered all the Mills and Boon competitions, and this time I got more experience and decided to set the book in Belfast as I know it better.

“The plot revolves around a junior doctor who has just started in the fictional Belfast Community Hospital and a french man who is her senior, a cardiologist.

“There is quite a bit about her self esteem and bullying in the past and she takes up burlesque dancing to help her with her confidence. They fall in love and working together they have to have a few medical emergencies!”

Karin says that she had to familiarise herself with medical terminology to write the novel, and her other three forthcoming books will also be in the medical romance genre.

“Book two won’t be out until January,” she revealed.

“It’s set in a children’s cancer ward, he’s an oncologist and she is making a documentary about children’s cancer wards.

“The third involves a cardiologist and a film crew making a documentary.”

Karin says that her two sons and husband George are proud of her achievements, and that she will continue her career as a novelist.

She also offered some advice to would-be authors.

“Learn up on the craft,” she stated.

“Mills and Boon have a certain structure , there are Harlequin writing forums online and I also did a correspondence course.

“It has been brilliant to see my name on the book cover and my family have been asking me to sign their books.”

Karin’s book is available at Eason’s and online at Amazon.

The Times also has one signed copy to give away.

To win it, email the name of Karin’s first novel to [email protected].