Pam Fudge comes from Poole, Dorset where she was born and grew up. ‘It’s a beautiful place and I have never wanted to live anywhere else,’ she says.

Pam shares her home with a dog, two cats and the occasional guest. Three grown up children, seven grown up stepchildren and numerous grandchildren make up the rest of Pam’s immediate family. She also has two sisters.

Pam works part-time as a Recruitment Administrator at Bournemouth University and was a part-time tutor for the Borough of Poole Adult Education Service teaching Writing For Pleasure And Profit for eleven years until March 2002. Many of Pam’s students found their way into print under her tuition.

Pam, herself, began her writing career in similar AE classes to the ones she went on to teach. One of her tutors was the late Nancy Smith, who encouraged Pam to take over the tuition of the class when she moved away from the area herself.

‘Nancy said “Never say no to anything, just because you think you can’t do it”,’ Pam recalls. ‘I’ve found myself not only teaching, but judging writing competitions, giving talks, not to mention writing books, just because Nancy assured me I could. I have a lot to thank her for."

Pam’s love of books came from the mother who ‘took us to the library as soon as we could walk,’ according to Pam. It was her elder sister, Barbara, who persuaded her to enrol for her first ‘Writing For Pleasure And Profit’ writing course. She had, however, been making up stories for her other sister, Pat, from a very early age and has been writing poetry for family, friends and colleagues for most of her life.

‘I was a typical wife and mum for many years,’ Pam says, ‘Very into baking, sewing, knitting and all those homely pursuits. I loved the luxury of being at home while my children grew up and I enjoyed every moment of the time I spent with them. Only when I could see forty looming on the horizon did I begin to look for something that would be just for me.’

That ‘something’ turned out to be a previously unsuspected talent for short fiction, and Pam’s first acceptance from ‘Hers’ magazine came only four months after she joined her first writing class.

Several years and numerous published short stories later, Pam had her first book accepted for publication. It was a romance, the hero inspired by Pam’s late husband, Eddie, and the character was based loosely on him. The following year her second book was published.

‘Eddie and I had a long and happy marriage. He was always very supportive of everything I did and the first book was dedicated to him. This dedication was a complete surprise to him and gave him immense pleasure. Eddie died suddenly in 1996 at only 52 years of age but I’ve always been very glad that he was here to see me get so far with my writing.’

Inspiration eluded Pam for some time, as she fought to come to terms with the loss of Eddie, but she eventually found success again with short fiction. She has been published in World Wide Writers - with a story for which she won a joint 3rd prize - and also in The Lady Fiction Special, Woman, Take A Break, Best, Fiction Feast and Woman’s Weekly.

Pam met Frank in the summer of 1997, they were married in July 1999 and were blissfully happy until his sudden death in September 2003. ‘I never expected to find love again,’ she says, ‘and I certainly never expected to marry again or to be as happy. Though our time together was relatively short, I still feel very, very lucky to have had that time and I wouldn’t have missed one minute. My time with Frank taught me a lot, not least to cherish those I love, and to enjoy every single day I am given. I know I am a better person for having known and loved him. He was a very, very special man. I would give anything to be able to turn the clock back, but I know that isn’t possible. I owe it to Frank – and to Eddie, too - to be happy as they would wish me to be.’

This saying is pinned above my PC:

‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.’

I try to heed those words and also that ‘Time is a great healer,’ and ‘Life goes on.’

Hearing about the publisher, Transita, and their very specific requirement – ‘novels featuring women over 45, who are facing new challenges’ - was a turning point for Pam and her third novel, Widow On The World was published by Transita in April 2006.

Widow On The World is a work of pure fiction, but Pam would have to say there have been certain similarities between her life and that of Denise, the main character in the book. Widow On The World is about one woman’s efforts to put her life back together after bereavement – hampered at times by well-meaning family (most of the time!) and friends. It’s a confirmation that life can begin again at any age – and still be full of surprises.

News of Pam’s success with Widow On The World has been reported in the Bournemouth Echo, Writers News and The Community Magazine. A book signing session at Ottaker’s Bookshop in Poole resulted in a sell-out, Waterstone’s in Bournemouth reported that Widow On The World was ‘flying off the shelves,’ and it was a recommended read in Bella magazine issue dated 25th April 2006.

In addition Widow On The World has been awarded 4 stars and described as ‘a sensitive tale’ when reviewed by The Bournemouth Echo, was among ‘Pick of the best reading to take on holiday or savour at home’ in My Weekly Holiday Reading Special and was dubbed ‘A good read’ by Yours Autumn Special with the following comments, ‘A true roller-coaster of emotions – it takes you from tears to laughter and back again with just the turn of a page. Definitely recommend. It’s a good choice, particularly if you’re looking for an easy entertaining read.’

Widow On The World has also recently been very favourably reviewed by the American ‘Bluestalking Reader and Pam was also interviewed by the same person. A more recent review from America on the Ex Libris blog dated May 26 2007 concludes, ‘Widow On The World is an enjoyable and thought provoking read. It is well written with witty, quick prose and several plot twists that keep things interesting. The author also provides compelling food for thought on various issues, which makes the reader stop and think. In my opinion, all of these factors add up to a good book,’ (both can be read in full on NEWS).

In recent months Pam has judged the Short Story Competition for Bournemouth Writers’ Circle and acted as co-organiser for the Bournemouth Literary Festival ‘A World of Romantic Fiction’ Event which took place on 30th June 2007. She was also interviewed for the ‘Writer’s Room’ slot in Writers’ Forum.

In October 2007 Pam's fourth novel, High Infidelity was published by Robert Hale Ltd and a book launch held at Waterstones in Poole, Dorset was hugely successful with every available copy sold on the night. 

A review of High Infidelity in The Woman Writer commented, ‘'The novel teases you with its twists and turns and is an enjoyable journey to the warm and satisfying resolution.  Tina and her daughter are attractively feisty characters and there is a down-to-earth, no-nonsense quality about the writing that is hugely appealing. The story gallops along and there are plenty of laughs and intriguing situations along the way.'

Also in 2007 Pam judged the Short Story Competition for Bournemouth Writers’ Circle and acted as co-organiser for the Bournemouth Literary Festival ‘A World of Romantic Fiction’ Event which took place on 30th June 2007. She was also interviewed for the ‘Writer’s Room’ slot in Writers’ Forum and featured in What’s On Books and Dorset Writers’ Top Festival Reading in the Bournemouth Echo.

Pam’s fifth novel, A Blessing In Disguise, was published in hardback by Hale in June 2008 and a feature in the Bournemouth Echo was headed, very aptly, ‘The dream has come true.’ Pam was also interviewed by Rob Richardson on Express FM for Write On a programme dedicated to writers and writing. This was followed by an interview on Radio Solent when she took part in the Bournemouth Literary Festival 2008.

A review of A Blessing In Disguise in The Woman Writer had the following to say, ‘This a story about how the unexpected can change your life forever. Alex and Phil have been happily married, or so she thought, for twenty-five years until Alex discovers she is pregnant. Phil gives her a cruel ultimatum, their marriage or the baby. She chooses the baby and moves into a flat. Also in the building is Winston, a photographer with problems of his own. Alex is surprised when Phil’s family supports her, as she has always felt like an outsider and had never been shown kindness before. She discovers Phil is having an affair with his nephew’s girlfriend. She reaches out for Winston but can he help her overcome her sadness? After the birth of her daughter, Mia, she feels no bond with the baby forcing Phil’s family to leave her to cope alone. Can Alex find the true meaning of family and love?’ It concludes, ‘this is a well-written book that holds one’s attention from the first page with twists and turns until the final outcome.’

Pam’s sixth novel, Second Best, was published in hardback by Hale in July 2009 and the feature in the Bournemouth Echo this time was headed ‘Best In Shore,’ due to the book’s stunning cover – courtesy of David Young - depicting Poole Quay at sunset. There followed interviews on Express FM, Forest FM and Hope FM and a very successful book launch at Waterstone’s in Poole.

A review Second Best in The Woman Writer stated, ‘From the first meeting of the feisty Stacey and the short-tempered Lex the sparks begin to fly, as the action moves rapidly between high drama and farce, with the wedding from hell that has Stacey as an unwilling and unwelcome guest merely the start of a roller-coaster of disaster, and the two protagonists fighting fate and each other as they hurtled through a labyrinth of human emotions and desires. Second Best is a good lively read, with plenty of humour and some nice one-liners; just the book to pack in your holiday luggage, or curl up with on a chilly September evening at home.’

Pam’s seventh novel, A Change For The Better, is due to be published in hardback by Hale in June 2010.