A PRESTATYN author has had to get creative for the launch of her second novel.

Rebecca Roberts’ English language debut Eat.Sleep.Rage.Repeat., was released on Friday May 1.

However, due to many book shops being shuttered during the lock down – and publisher Gomer Press having to furlough some of their marketing staff – mum-of-two Mrs Roberts, 34, is having to introduce potential readers to work online.

Mrs Roberts, who works as a translator, said: “Although I’ve missed out on having a physical launch it’s still amazing to be able to hold a copy of Eat.Sleep.Rage.Repeat. in my hands.

“It’s the second novel I’ve had published in twelve months, which is something to be proud of – even if I can only celebrate in my own living room.

“The problem is that I don’t think that many people know that Eat.Sleep.Rage.Repeat. has been published, because people can’t browse bookshops and I’ve not been able to have an actual launch.

“ I’ve had actor friends of mine reading extracts and I’ve written blog posts and used hashtags and things like that - I’m doing my best.”

Set in a fictional town in North East Wales, Eat.Sleep.Rage.Repeat. is a dark and gritty story of violence, anger, forgiveness and redemption that follows a young Welsh teacher who finds herself falsely accused of a crime.

Mrs Roberts initially started writing the novel as a script, with the opening chapter staged as part of a drama project with Menai Bridge's Cwmni’r Fran Wen.

It follows her first novel, Welsh language bestseller Mudferwi, with a third novel Helynt set in Rhyl expected to be released in the autumn.

Mrs Roberts added:“Now more than ever people are turning to fiction for escapism. My first novel, Mudferwi is still selling well, despite being published almost a year ago.

"Eat.Sleep.Rage.Repeat. is set in north east Wales, but I chose to set it in a fictional, unnamed town because I didn’t want people to think that I was depicting a certain area in a negative light. The problems experiences by the characters are problems across the length and breadth of the country.”

Eat.Sleep.Rage.Repeat. is available from Gomer.co.uk, the Books Council of Wales website gwales.com as well as from Waterstones and Amazon.