My debut novel, Before the Fall, is a fictionalised version of a true story.

In 1997, I was a journalist for The Daily Mail. Paul Harris, a feature writer, was looking through documents in the National Archives near Kew Gardens, and uncovered a dossier of police statements and inquest reports relating to a tragic case in 1918.

The story was that of a young, working class mum called Annie, in London's East End. Her husband joined the Poplar and Stepney Rifles in 1915, and went off to war. Annie, whose name I changed to Hannah Loxwood, took a job as a waitress, met a customer and fell in love. The letters they left behind suggest it was love-at-first-sight.

It seems incongruous in that bleak docklands setting, but clearly there was an immediate rapport, and they had an affair. At a time of strict moral codes, when there was great pressure on women to do their duty for the country, to take up with another man would have been a huge risk.

We tend to judge such people as flighty and unfaithful, but she was a respectable, hard-working woman and previously a devoted wife and mother. She became pregnant, but through it all, her lover stood by her. Eventually, Annie's husband returned home, and things took a dramatic and sad turn.

Paul asked me to trace any living relatives for a feature in the Mail. I spent days piecing it all together, and found the granddaughter of Annie and the grandson of her lover. They were fascinated to hear the story.

At the time, I thought it would make an interesting story for a book. But I didn't think I had the time or the skill to write a novel. It wasn't until ten years later, when I signed up to do an MA in Creative Writing at Chichester
University, that I began writing more seriously.

Whilst there, I won the Kate Betts' Memorial Prize, joined Horsham Writers Circle and started writing more. It was mainly short stories and poetry, but I did attempt contemporary novels without ever finishing one. Then in 2010, I thought 'I really want to write about Annie's story' but as a mum-of-three I was worried about the amount of time it would take to research because of the historical context.

As it transpired, I loved the research side of the project. It became a real personal challenge. I wanted to see if I could write a novel for myself, and if nobody wanted to publish it then at least I had tried and could move on.

It was a challenge trying to create a central character that was believable, not necessarily likeable, but someone you could sympathise with. She probably made some wrong choices, but who can say that they would do different?

I spoke to the relatives again earlier this year, to let them know I had written a book and they were okay with the idea. I felt happier to fictionalise the names of the characters though, as I needed to create a wider cast of characters. It felt wrong using real people and then inventing friends and colleagues.

The breakthrough came in a novel writing competition run by Myriad Editions, a publisher based in Brighton, and West Dean College. I had entered with my previous novels without success, but on this occasion my book was shortlisted, which gave me the confidence to finish a book for the first time.

I didn't win the competition, but an agent on the judging panel said 'When you've finished, send me your manuscript.' I finished Before the Fall in early 2013 and submitted it to four agents. Two declared an interest, and I chose Janklow & Nesbit of London.

After a period of polishing the story, the book was submitted to publishers. There was no guarantee I would get a publishing deal though, so it was amazing when Macmillan offered me a two book deal. I still can't believe that a little over a year since I met my agent, the book is published.

The hardback was published on 22nd May and the paperback is out at the end of August. It's for sale in Waterstones. I will attend a launch event for the paperback at the Horsham Waterstones store on Thursday 4th September. It's also available through Amazon.

My next book is another historical novel, set in 1935 in London and Sussex. It's fictional, not as dark as Before the Fall, but the characters are influenced by The Great War.

The reality is that most writers, even quite well-known ones, struggle to make a good living just from book sales. We dream of writing an amazing bestseller but in reality that happens to 0.01% of authors. People ask 'Are you then next J.K Rowling?' but she is a once in a generation exception. Most authors have extra jobs such as creative writing tutors. I myself have held some workshops at local schools, and I really enjoy that.

I'm not complaining though. If I can be a writer and make any sort of living from that, I'll feel like the luckiest person in the world.

Before the Fall (ISBN: 9781447259053) is out now priced £12.99 (hardback), Visit www.panmacmillan.com