Stockport author Lesley Tither is making a return visit to her home town at the end of July for the first time in twelve years. Lesley, who is a sponsor of Stockport Pride, will be doing an author talk and book signing at Stockport Central Library, where she first gained her love of books.
Lesley, 66, grew up in Hillcrest Road, Offerton and attended Stockport High School. Her late father, John Tither, edited the Stockport Advertiser then the Wilmslow Advertiser. He was a well-known figure at St Alban's Church, Offerton, where he was sacristan and lay reader.
Lesley had her first commercial writing success whilst still at school. At the age of 16, she wrote a storyline for a television western series which was bought by an American production company and adapted for screening.
After leaving school, she trained in journalism at Harris College, Preston. Her first reporting job was on the Stretford and Urmston Journal.
Lesley now lives in central France. Having retired as a freelance copywriter, she writes Stockport-based crime fiction - the Ted Darling Crime Series as L M Krier - travel memoirs - the Sell the Pig series under the pen-name Tottie Limejuice - and children's fiction as L M Kay.
The Ted Darling books - currently 12 in the series with No 13 due out in September 2019 - all feature iconic Stockport landmarks on the covers, including the Viaduct and Market Place.
The brief trip to Stockport will be Lesley's first return visit to the UK since 2007. She will spend Saturday 27th July doing press and media interviews, followed by an afternoon appearance at the Central Library. On Sunday she will be attending the Stockport Pride celebrations.
Lesley said: "I'm really pleased to be able to do something to support my former hometown. It's a particular honour to be asked to appear at the library where I first fell in love with books - especially as it will be my birthday that day.
"I'm also thrilled to be attending Pride, which I'm happy to sponsor, as an event which promotes equality in such a positive way."