RISING Stourbridge novelist Kerry Hadley-Pryce is about to set pulses racing again with her second novel ‘Gamble’.

If Gamble – which has been released this week by Salt Publishing – does anywhere near as well as her first novel ‘The Black Country’, then former Redhill School English teacher Kerry could be well on her way to a highly successful literary career.

The Black Country was voted by the Independent Newspaper as one of the top 10 debut novels of 2015 and Kerry is hopeful of further acclaim with Gamble.

Both her novels are set in Stourbridge and Kerry admitted: “I love writing about the Black Country. It's a dark and mysterious place.

“The Black Country was about a local couple who had lots of hidden secrets, while Gamble is about a Stourbridge man who reaches a mid-life crisis and starts to make some wrong decisions.”

Originally from Wordsley, Kerry attended Brierley Hill Grammar School – now Crestwood – and said: “I’m a proper Black Country wench and I always wanted to be a writer, but was discouraged from doing so. I was told writing was not a proper job.

“Instead I had numerous jobs after leaving school, working in offices and then for social services and charities before going into teaching.

“I finally went to Worcester University as a mature student and then went into teaching for 15 years.

“I'm currently studying for a PhD at Wolverhampton but I also lecture in creative writing. I'm a perpetual student at the moment but I would love to be a full time writer.

“As a result of The Black Country, I was approached by an influx of agents who wanted to represent me, which was quite encouraging, as normally, it's the other way around.”

Kerry, who is 57 and lives in Parkfield Road, doesn't intend to rest on her laurels as a third novel is already on its way.

For more details about Kerry's latest novel visit www.saltpublishing.com/products/gamble-9781784631307.