2024 couldn’t have ended better for the JM Agency team with the festive launch of Millie Blackwood’s debut novel Oasis, at the seasonally fitting setting of Portmarnock Resort and Golf Links, Portmarnock, Dublin. Having provided Millie with our comprehensive Book Publishing Package, it’s satisfying to see all her hard work come to fruition.
The atmospheric setting of Portmarnock Resort held special significance for the author, as she wrote the early drafts of Oasis during lockdown. At the launch, Millie spoke passionately about her love of books and the importance of reading. For Millie, books are both a source of pleasure and a means of self-discovery. She shared a touching anecdote about a reader who told her that the novel had rekindled their love of reading, a sentiment that delighted her.
Since its publication last December, reviews have been rolling in fast and overwhelmingly positive.
Malcolm Campbell, the screenwriter behind the indie hit What Richard Did and several episodes of hit TV shows Shameless UK and Skins, praised Blackwood for crafting a novel that is “meticulously written, rich in detail and insight.” He also highlighted her skilful portrayal of the protagonist’s internal world, noting, “Blackwood is particularly strong at describing her character’s inner life – her hopes, dreams, and very real anxieties.”
Oasis is a pacy, engrossing novel – a true page-turner perfect for a quiet winter’s night.
The story begins with Louise, in love with the handsome Kareem, leaving Dublin to join him in his native Libya. However, the reality of married life in Tripoli falls far short of Louise’s dreams. Trapped in an abusive marriage, she endures by raising her children and ultimately finding her footing in an unfamiliar land.
It is Louise’s internal journey that captivates Millie the most. While the setting of Oasis unfolds against the shifting sands and stunning sunsets of Libya, the real journey is Louise’s transformation – from a romantic idealist to a self-awakened woman.
Millie took advantage of our comprehensive publishing package for authors and organisations, which Jeremy designed to enable self-publishing authors to benefit from a professional team and ensure their book is published to an exceptional standard.
Oasis is currently available in wide variety of online retailers, including Amazon and Irish company Buy the Book.
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