IF you’re interested in a story set in Tenby, then Mary Powles’ fourth novel might be the one for you. It focuses on three women whose personal circumstances lead them to live next door to one another.

Mary told the Tenby Observer: “I’ve been coming to Tenby for holidays for decades so know it well, it has everything - wonderful seascapes and friendly people, I felt the location lent itself to someone wanting a fresh start!

With ‘Light Piercing the Grey’, the Carmarthenshire novelist continues her collaboration with the talented Llanelli artist, Denise Di Battista, who illustrates her work.

Mary Powles was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, studied English and Drama at Homerton college, Cambridge and went on to study Creative Writing at the University of Wales, achieving an MA. She taught English and Drama in Swansea and later, Llanelli, which is where she has lived for most of her married life, bringing up sons who are now grown up and have children of their own.

When asked about local book clubs or creative writing groups, Mary replied: “I have belonged over the years to a group in Llanelli, but more recently have concentrated on actually writing! I give talks to various local groups too.”

Mary has always liked writing and recently, when clearing out the attic, she found a notebook from primary school and realised that she has been writing and telling stories since she was a child.

She feels that as she has got older, her life experiences have enabled her to understand more fully the characters which spring to life in her imagination.

Mary says: “I write novels that would appeal to me, with characters I care about and who are easy to relate to, the sort of thing which could be read on your own or discuss in a book group'".

She wanted to write a story based in Tenby, becoming fascinated by women who are unaware of the fact that a romantic partner is a fraudster and worked on a backstory for Carrie who has lost her savings through being scammed by Ethan. Her next door neighbour has problems of her own, living her life almost entirely indoors and online.

The characters of her decent ex-husband and clever, challenging daughter wrote themselves somehow. She enjoyed developing a complicated bond between the main protagonists, united in a common purpose to support one another and bring Ethan to justice.

Previous novels by Mary Powles are: ‘The Accidental Stalker’, ‘Moving Times’ and ‘Misplaced Fortune’.

The author’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/theaccidentalstalker) is named after her first novel, ‘The Accidental Stalker’.

“Mary Powles has an excellent eye for characterisation and for everyday frustrations, absurdities and simple pleasures,” wrote one reader of ‘The Accidental Stalker’. Of ‘Misplaced Fortune, a review states: “This is realism with a sprinkle of nostalgia - a thoroughly enjoyable read,” while ‘Misplaced Fortune’ is described as “a novel of warmth and poignancy.”

‘Light Piercing the Grey’ is for sale in Tenby Bookshop and The Golden Sheaf in Narberth.