Aformer marketer who swapped promotions for words will be showcasing her debut book at a reading next month.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Gaia Effect book coverGaia Effect book cover (Image: Archant)

Claire Buss, of Linsdell Road, Barking, who made the finals of the borough’s Pen to Print competition in 2015, has become the first person to get her book published from the event.

The 35-year-old mum has admitted the “mad experience” has changed her life, even though it started as a bit of fun for the writing enthusiast, when she entered.

“I saw the advert in the library window and just thought that it seemed like good fun and ended up getting involved that way.

“It was a mad experience and I was really helped by local author Ian Ayris, who was my mentor in the competition.”

The science fiction author “never even expected” to get through, let alone land second spot at the competition, and she also believes there was no real inspiration behind her book.

“It was really weird, it was like a story that was inside me,” she said.

“I think it must have been something that bubbling in the back of my mind for a long time.”

Gaia Effect is set in the future, where the surviving population live in domed cities protecting them from the radiation outside, a company called Corporation exists to provide the people with everything they desire.

“I sat down everyday and wrote 1,000 words to get the book ready.

“I never had a plan and never even thought this is not going to happen.”

Claire is already planning and working on a second book called The Rose Thief, a darkly funny fantasy novel, but she isn’t getting ahead of herself and wants to get her debut book into as many shops as possible.

“I’ve been working hard at social media trying to create an online presence and now I am hoping to get the book placed in local bookshops, like The Newham Bookshop.”

Claire will talk about her novel at the Barking Learning Centre on March 16 from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Entry is free. Visit eventbrite.co.uk for more information.