Dateline: November 29, 2001

New York firm publishes local author's book

After several years of writing during lunch hours and wee hours, Clarendon resident and part-time newspaper columnist Gail Shelton has achieved a long-term dream. She had a book accepted for publication by a major New York publisher, and it’s out on the bookshelves now.

Hide-and-Sheikh, by Gail Dayton (Shelton’s nom de plume), is published by Silhouette for their Desire line.

Silhouette is part of Harlequin Publishing, a company which publishes what are known as series or category romance, feminine descendants of the old dime novels. New books go out on the shelves every month as the previous month’s books are usually removed to make room.

Shelton wrote her first story in fourth grade about a cat, if she’s remembering correctly, but didn’t get serious about publication until about five years ago when she finished her first novel manuscript. Hide-and-Sheikh was the 8th she completed.

In Hide-and-Sheikh, a female bodyguard is tapped to locate the AWOL son of a visiting sheikh. When she succeeds, it begins a game of one-upmanship that quickly escalates into more than either of them is prepared for, including Islamic terrorists targeting the hero.

“This book is pure romantic fantasy. Brain candy, for lack of a better word,” Shelton said. “If you need a break from your life, this is a great way to spend a few hours in another, really fun, place.”

Shelton will have a book signing at Burton Memorial Library this coming Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.