A CONSULTANT with one of the North West's leading commercial property law firms is set to make her mark as an author with a debut novel about the infamous Peterloo Massacre.

The book by Carolyn O'Brien, a professional support lawyer with Land Law LLP, is scheduled for publication at the start of August, just weeks before the 200th anniversary of a fatal charge by cavalry into a crowd demanding parliamentary reforms.

Eighteen people were killed and several hundred more were injured in the incident at St Peter's Field in Manchester on the 16th of August 1819.

Carolyn's novel ('The Song of Peterloo') tells the story of a millworker, Nancy Kay, who joins the protest after struggling to support both her mother and her son and is the latest indication of her literary talents.

"I've been interested in writing since I was a child but had only returned to it about a decade ago - first as a hobby and more recently in a more serious fashion. It provides a complement both to my work as a lawyer and my role as a mother too.

"I'd won a few short story competitions and was even shortlisted for a notable international award - the Bridport - but it was always my intention to write a full-length story.

"After completing several drafts of the book, it was selected for publication at the start of this year, since when things have moved rather quickly. It's all very exciting."

During more than two decades as a lawyer, Carolyn has worked with some of the North West's largest legal brands, handling major commercial property deals and development work for landlord clients prior to joining Land Law in 2016.

Her current role involves advising Land Law's fee earners on training and compliance issues.

Carolyn's debut novel is being released by the acclaimed London-based independent house Legend Press. Since being established in 2005, the company's titles - focusing on literary, women's, historical and crime fiction - have been nominated for numerous awards.

She described how, in addition to coinciding with commemorations of Peterloo itself, publication of the book will be marked with a special book-signing concert at Manchester's Central Library.

The concert, which is a collaboration between Carolyn, composer and arranger Shane Cullinan and soprano Claire O'Brien will feature both music from the time of the massacre and new material and aims to raise money for the Nordoff-Robbins music therapy charity.

Carolyn added: "Nordoff-Robbins has been a cause close to my heart for some time and, in fact, two of the characters in the novel are drawn to the therapeutic power of music in much the same way as the charity has benefited many thousands of people over the 60 years since its foundation.”.