Page 22 • The HERALD • 17th September 2026 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v SPECIALISING IN HOUSE RENOVATIONS THE FITTING OF BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS CARPENTRY, GARAGE CONVERSIONS PATIOS AND GENERAL BUILDING Family-run business with over 30 years of experience Tel: 07774134992 w: southernhomedevelopments.co.uk Call Richard on 07554 421544 or 023 8178 8299 PEST CONTROL All aspects of control and treatment undertaken including: Rodents, Insects, Moles, Wasps, Birds and Property Proofing Licensed waste removal of all types of waste Local Friendly Family Run Business • Fully Trained & Insured The next Herald is out on 8th October LOCAL INDIE AUTHOR NOW LIVING HER CHILDHOOD DREAM Indie author Susan Mansbridge is living her childhood dream. Unexpectedly out of work in 2016, Susan started writing the stories she loves most: magic, heroes, dragons, and good triumphing over evil. Susan is an avid reader, loves cryptic crosswords, and photography. She lives in Redbridge with her husband, who is her biggest supporter. Her latest series is based on Norse mythology, Susan says: “It came about by accident. I was thinking about the old Reed Bridge and imagined someone peering through the fence and seeing a dark shape. I immediately thought of trolls, and my research led me to the nine realms. It’s been fascinating incorporating the familiar gods and places into something new.” e series, starting with e Charred Blade, follows architect Finlay Balder and his two friends, who live in a Southampton suburb. When fragments of a forgotten life interrupt his ordinary routine, Finn must confront the truth that he does not belong in the world he calls home. Transported to a strange realm of magic and sorcerers, Finn faces untold dangers on a journey to free the father he cannot remember. e Local Hampshire author, omas Murphy, has written a new novel titled Seven Seconds, which is out at the end of September. Set between the chaos of a major road accident and the quiet corridors of an intensive care unit, the novel follows Jennifer as she confronts the a ermath of a devastating tragedy. As the truth begins to emerge, the lines between reality and memory become blurred, forcing her to face the di cult question of who is le to wake up when the sirens stop. e book explores themes of love, loss, grief, memory, resilience, and the lasting impact of trauma. At its heart, it is a story about survival and nding a way forward when life changes in an instant. omas grew up in Stubbington and always enjoyed writing, becoming a published author seemed more like a daydream than a realistic ambition. It was during his time at University that the novel rst began test of my abilities, but the characters wouldn’t leave me alone.” Grave Concerns is already out, and Susan plans to publish the next instalment in December. If you enjoy fantasy, Susan’s books promise a strong moral code, great drama, and memorable characters. Visit: www.susanmansbridge.com to nd out more. Susan Mansbridge second book, Mimir’s Orb, has just been published. Susan has also written a cosy murder mystery, she comments: “That was a challenge. I’m a pantser by nature – writing without a clear plan – but you can’t do that with a mystery. For a few months, I become a plotter, making detailed notes about motives, clues, and red herrings. It started off as a fun Hampshire Author Releases New Novel in a laptop folder, sometimes in notebooks, and occasionally in the back of my mind as a project I promised myself I would one day finish. One of the most challenging aspects of writing the book was bridging the gap between the writer who started it and the person who eventually finished it. The result is a novel that explores love, loss, memory and resilience following a devastating accident. Beneath the story is a question that has intrigued me for years: how do we know that what we perceive as reality is actually real? It’s a question I hope readers will be debating long after they’ve finished the book.” to take shape. Thomas comments: “For over ten years, the idea behind Seven Seconds stayed with me. Sometimes it sat quietly Thomas Murphy www.hannahs-electrics.co.uk • hannahelectricsAgmail.com
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