MULLINGAR author Patricia Gibney has sold 100,000 copies of her debut literary offering ‘The Missing Ones’ since its release on 16 March, it was revealed last week by Irish Times Culture online.
The book which is published by UK based digital publisher Bookouture, London is available worldwide on Kindle and is sold through Amazon and iBooks.
Patricia is contracted for four books which all feature the same lead character Lottie Parker.
Last week Amazon introduced a new rating for the most books sold in a week in the US and ‘The Missing Ones’ ranked 11! Patricia’s yet to released ‘The Stolen Girls’ has jumped into the Amazon UK top 50 at 34.
In the month since publication it has become a US bestseller, hitting the number 1 slot in three categories in the US Amazon Kindle charts, reaching number 6 in US overall Amazon charts. It climbed to number 2 in the UK overall Kindle charts and number 1 in three categories. It is a bestseller in Canada and Australia and has reached number one in Amazon Audible Narration and also reached 24 in the overall USA Today Best-Selling Books list.
“Eight years ago I would have thought this impossible. On 11 February, 2009 my world was turned upside down, inside out, and every which way you care to imagine. My strong fit, 49-year-old soldier husband was suddenly diagnosed with cancer, following investigations for a clot in his leg. Aidan died just over three months later on a beautiful sunny morning on 31 May, 2009. I could only see darkness,” Patricia said.
“We had three teenage children. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was sit them down and tell them their daddy was going to die. The day after the funeral the two girls sat their Junior and Leaving Cert exams – and passed!
“I had worked for almost 30 years with Westmeath County Council but after Aidan died I crumbled. I’d been too strong throughout his short illness and after his death I couldn’t cope any more. I succumbed to depression and had to give up my job. Two years later I eventually hauled myself back to the land of the living, helped by family and friends, and I revived an old friend – creativity.
“Rekindling my love of art and writing, I self-published a children’s book, ‘Spring Sprong Sally’, which I illustrated and wrote. I didn’t sell many copies as I have no head for business but then I began my writing journey. I had always been an avid reader and about 20 years ago I had written a full-length crime novel, promptly consigning it to a bottom drawer, never again to see the light of day.
Asked why she thought the book was so successful, Patricia said she believed the story struck a chord with people. “It is a crime book but the underlying story-line is really about children in institutes, which has been a very topical subject over the last number of years. My book is purely fiction but I think it resonates with people. Readers can relate to the normality of the characters, I suppose,” Patricia humbly said.
Patricia’s second book ‘The Stolen Girls’ with be out on 6 July and is on pre-order through through Amazon and iBooks.
Patricia visited the international crime fiction convention, Bristol Crimefest, for the weekend where she mingled with crime writer people, of which she is now one.
So what does the future hold for Patricia? Maybe a film could be on the horizon for the talented Mullingar woman?
