Derry mum realises childhood dream with debut novel release

Derry-born author and working mother Shauna Healy Duffy has officially published her debut fiction novel, ‘Mollie Collins is Mental’, fulfilling an artistic dream she has held since childhood.

Now available globally via Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, the book is a gripping, twisty fiction novel that follows the extraordinary choices of its titular character. The story asks readers a haunting question: ‘Could you hand your life over to someone else, move a more attractive woman into your husband’s bed, and give her your children?’ For protagonist Mollie Collins, choosing a replacement is her only option to save her family from suffering - but letting go proves to be a path of no return.

For Shauna, a lifelong avid reader who grew up in Derry inspired by the magical storytelling of Roald Dahl, completing the book represents a major personal triumph over the familiar hurdles of modern family life and self-doubt.

"At eight years old, I had dreams of being an author," Shauna shared. "Then I grew up into a sensible, sometimes cranky, adult on a vocational path, but that little bit of magic never left. No matter if I was feeding a baby, sending emails, or handing my husband a DIY to-do list, my hand always found a pen.

“It never left and I couldn’t ignore the fairy dust that sprung from the books I read as a child, it got everywhere, in my ears, my schoolbag, my hair and sometimes, when the day is quiet enough; I can still see a sparkle of it there.

“I had been toying with the idea of actually writing and completing a novel – of the hundreds of ideas that were swimming about in my head and in my phone notes and I got started but couldn’t get to the finish line; the busy life of a working mum and probably a little fear sprinkled in there too, that people might actually read these words I have written and what would I do then.”

Despite having hundreds of ideas stored in her phone notes, juggling the busy life of a working mother made reaching the finish line a challenge. The breakthrough came when Shauna attended a workplace initiative that helped her bridge the gap between amateur writing and professional publication.

"I attended a Wellness at Work programme with wellbeing facilitator Michelle McGowan," Shauna explained.

"Every week, Michelle focused on different wellbeing areas with a continual focus on goal setting. No 'smish-smosh'—proper, thorough, specific goal setting. I set myself the personal goal of a publication date for my first fiction novel, and guess what... it worked."

With the book now live, the Derry author hopes her journey inspires other local writers to take the leap and share their stories with the world, echoing the famous words of Walt Disney that gave her courage along the way: "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

Mollie Collins is Mental is available to buy now in paperback and ebook formats on Amazon, and is free to read for subscribers on Kindle Unlimited.