Lesley Bootiman is an award-winning comedy scriptwriter, newspaper and broadcast journalist. Born in the north-east, she now lives between Bristol and Bath. Gifts is her first novel.

More about ‘Gifts’:
Like many teenage girls growing up in the 60s, Bella Greig wants to be a pop star. When her dream becomes a reality, she leaves the close-knit community of the north-east behind for London. And with it, the pressures of a family driven by ambition and haunted by decades of trauma and a deadly secret. For she hasn’t just inherited her incredible musical talent but a terrifying legacy, the threat of Huntington’s Disease. When quiet and reserved Maisie, Bella’s ‘aunt’, meets an older man at work, she dreams of finally having a loving family of her own. But Betty Greig, family matriarch, knows that life as an unwed mother is filled with problems of its own – and she isn’t prepared to have the respectability she has fought so hard for shattered by a foolish moment of passion. And with Huntington’s waiting in the wings, the child stands to inherit more than disgrace and musical talent, there are lives at stake…

Lesley’s also collaborated with David Byrne on ‘Owning Racehorses’:
This book is for everyone who’s ever dreamt of seeing their horse win.
But it’s not always like that. Here, you’ll find the early days of ‘Lucky Jim’ Lewis, owner of Best Mate and Edredon Bleu. There’s the Gaffer – Miss Jean Broadhurst – whose horses include Upgrade. Meet Terry Warner, owner of Rooster Booster. Here too, Andy Stewart, co-owner of Cenkos and a man with blunt views about the costs. And Robert Lester, whose Iris’s Gift cost just £5,000. Why has he rejected offers of more than a £1 million. You’ll also find the authors’ frank and funny account of a season with four horses in training. What it is like to have a horse win twice in five days? Or one which runs out while in the lead with the champion jockey on board? There’s the truth about their costs and winnings as well as the other side of racing ownership. How does it feel when the green screens go up? Or when your horse breaks down after running a blinder at Cheltenham? This is a book for everyone who’s ever dreamed the dream.

Both books are/will be available from Amazon and https://www.lylebooks.co.uk.

Lesley will be joining us soon on a Monday Midday Mini-Fest or T&T Panel, and then July’s online all-day festival and our in-person October festival. In the meantime do watch Morgen’s chat with Lesley about her writing journey: