Dr. Zoë Marriott, a successful author from Grimsby, will host a book signing for her debut novel aimed at adults, The Moonlit Maze, on January 24, 2024. The event will take place at Waterstones Grimsby from 11:00 to 15:00. This marks a significant milestone for Marriott, who has previously focused on writing children’s fiction.
Published by Headline Review in the summer of 2023, The Moonlit Maze is described as a “historical mystery with a hint of a haunting.” The novel quickly gained traction, becoming an Amazon top five bestseller in its genre and an Apple Fiction Chart Bestseller in Germany. Following its successful hardback release, a paperback edition is now available.
Marriott, who has been publishing books since she was 22 years old, reflects on her journey as a “working-class girl from a council estate.” Despite her achievements, she admits to experiencing imposter syndrome. “I am lucky enough to have an academic job now, and I am lucky enough to be published now. I think at a certain point I have to stop saying, ‘I don’t belong here,'” she stated.
The inspiration for The Moonlit Maze came to Marriott after the death of her father, with the protagonist also facing a similar loss. Initially, she attempted to write the story as a young adult book, but the publisher was not receptive. “I really wanted to write this book, and it didn’t work as a young adult book anyway. So I had to sort of put it away. And it stayed there in the drawer, kind of throbbing at me,” she remarked.
Marriott took a break from young adult fiction to focus on this project, ultimately pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing. Despite lacking an undergraduate degree, she was accepted into a “very nerdy, academic” program that ignited her passion for writing. She later developed The Moonlit Maze as part of her doctoral studies at the Open University, where she won funding and an invitation to complete a PhD.
“At the end of three years, I had a new book and I had my thesis, and I got my PhD and a publishing deal – so it all worked out brilliantly,” Marriott said.
Prior to her current work, she published several young adult novels, including The Swan Kingdom, Daughter of the Flames, Shadows on the Moon, Frostfire, the Name of the Blade series, Barefoot on the Wind, and The Hand, The Eye and The Heart.
Marriott’s book signing event offers fans a unique opportunity to meet the author and celebrate her transition into adult fiction. With her engaging storytelling and heartfelt themes, The Moonlit Maze promises to captivate a broad audience, further solidifying her place in the literary world.
