Writing’s often described as a labour of love and, I’ve heard said, completing a novel’s like giving birth, in which case (bear with me while I run with this analogy) this year my firstborn is celebrating quite a milestone. My first published novel is twenty years old. Happy birthday, Working Girls.

Here’s a pic from its launch party and why ‘Girls’ holds a very special place in my heart . . .

The book entered the publishing world way back in September 2001 yet even now I can recall my author copies arriving as though they’d been delivered this morning. That almost indescribable moment, a series of exquisite ‘firsts’: turning the book in my hands, leafing through the pages, seeing my carefully-crafted prose in print, the cover carrying my name, the scent of the ink. I know I had the broadest smile on my face even as tears welled in my eyes.

But then I’d waited eight seemingly long years for what at times had appeared the impossible, the unattainable. The publication of Working Girls validated all the hours of hard graft during which I’d written four crime novels, countless short stories, submitted scripts on numerous occasions; garnered a host of rave rejections but no contract. Close but no cigar, as they say. High hopes, dashed expectations.  

I’d reluctantly decided Working Girls would be my last shot, my final attempt at realising an ambition I’d held for as long as I could remember – to be a published author. I’d worked with words throughout my career, first as a newspaper reporter then in radio and finally as journalist, presenter and producer with BBC TV news.

I loved my time in journalism but after more than twenty years, I was ready for a new challenge. Even as a child I’d dreamt of becoming an author and as time passed knew I wanted to write crime fiction. I wanted to create books that people would want to read, characters they’d fall in love with.   

And for that I needed a distinctive lead detective . . .

Back then, with honourable exceptions, the genre featured a lot of middle-aged male cops, often angst-ridden mavericks with dubious tastes in music, an idiosyncratic mode of transport and an endless capacity for alcohol.  

Pointy elbow

Don’t get me wrong, I read those books with relish, positively lapped them up. Indeed, initially, I envisaged a similar sort of senior officer for Working Girls. But I hadn’t bargained on Detective Sergeant Beverley Morriss barging her way onto the screen, all pointy-elbow, sharp-tongue and kick-ass attitude.     

More than all this though – and one of the reasons readers took her to their hearts – Bev cared about the people she met, the victims, grieving relatives, the under-privileged, anyone who’d been dealt a bum hand in the game of life.

And so the stroppy sergeant gradually but inexorably took centre stage from the man I had in mind to play her boss. As the song says, you’ve come a long way baby. Not unlike the book.    

Original cover from Flambard Press Second issue by Creme de la Crime Creative Content’s rebrand

I can barely believe it’s two decades since Bev took those first steps shadowing working girls as they sashayed onto Birmingham’s mean streets and back alleys. Along the way, she’s covered a lot of ground: there are now ten titles in the series, and Bev leads the action in every one.  

Described as feisty before the word became a cliché, she’s outspoken, obstinate and frequently obstreperous but she loves her mum, loathes the bad guys and has a penchant for Sauvignon Blanc.

As Sharon Wheeler, Reviewing the Evidence, put it:

Many writers would sell their firstborn to have the ability to create such a distinctive ‘voice’ in a main character.

Thank you, Sharon.

Talking of voices, so to speak, I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when, nine years after its release, Working Girls was brought out in audio. Published and produced by the crack team at my publishers Creative Content, it was narrated by one of my favourite actors: the peerless Frances Barber. Listening to Frances give voice to Bev and all the other characters was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my writing career. Her extraordinary performance raised the hairs on my nape and had me on the edge of the seat – and I’d written every word! Thank you, Frances.

The award-winning narrator Clare Corbett subsequently voiced most of the other books (brilliantly) and I had the pleasure of sitting in during her recording of Baby Love, the third Bev Morriss story and one of my favourites in the series. (Okay, strictly speaking I should have only one favourite but it’s like asking a mother to choose between her children!) Watching Clare in action was amazing and meeting my wonderful publishers was a delight, as you can see.

Clare Corbett Ali Muirden, me and Lorelei King

And here’s a taster . . .

Have to say that watching an audio book being recorded was certainly another of my ‘firsts’, as was being an author on a panel of debut writers at Dead on Deansgate. The panel was dubbed, New Kids on the Block, a description which in my case stretched credulity somewhat! Nonetheless it was a terrific – if terrifying – experience and I found myself seated alongside another newbie, Mark Billingham. Whatever happened to him?! Joking apart, I love Mark’s writing and he was generous enough to provide one of my later books with a great shout-line:

Crime writing and crime fighting: Maureen Carter and her creation Bev Morriss are the second city’s finest.

I’ll take that.  Thank you, Mr B!

So Working Girls began my publishing journey and it’s been quite the most remarkable ride. Along the way I’ve met countless amazing people: publishers, authors, booksellers, librarians, festival organisers all of whom I thank, and my biggest thanks go to the lovely readers out there. People who’ve loved the books, fallen in (and out of) love with some of the characters, made suggestions for future plotlines and helped to spread the word. And by now I’ve written quite a few of those . . .

The ten Bev Morriss titles, published by Creative Content, are available in e-form, six are also available on audio. https://www.creativecontentdigital.com/crime_fiction.html

I’ve also written five titles in my second series featuring DI Sarah Quinn and TV journalist Caroline King. The books were originally published by Severn House and have recently been rebranded and rereleased in e-format by Joffe Books, introducing the characters to an even wider readership.

There are lots more details about me and my books here: www.maureencarter,co.uk 

In the meantime, now in its twenty-first year, I raise a toast to my fictional firstborn.

Happy Birthday, Working Girls.    

We’ve both come a long way, baby.