A DEBUT novel penned by a Nuneaton writer is set to become a world-wide best-seller.
Early previews of Dave Whitehouse's first publication, `Bed,' have received rave reviews, with one critic suggesting it presents the `most thrilling and unique voices to emerge from Britain in years.'
It is due to hit the shelves not only in this country, but in ten others, including America, Canada and Australia, at the start of next month.
Humble about his achievements, the former King Edward VI College student should be used to the praise, having already earned himself an award-winning journalistic career, and `Bed' was also crowned the inaugural winner of the 'To Hell with Prizes' award in 2010 for best unpublished novel. While now based in London, the former Alderman Smith School pupil's family still live in the Stockingford area and `Bed' gives several nods to his hometown.
"As I imagine it, there are places in the book that make me think of places in Nuneaton, the protagonist works in a butchers shop, which is like the one I used to work in in Stockingford," the 30-year-old said.
"There is a also a large store, which I imagine to be like the Co-op and a carnival." Published by Canongate, `Bed' is a coming-of-age novel about a man with huge prospects who, one day, goes to bed and decides to never get out again.
Dave began writing the book back in 2006 and it took around 14 months to complete, before spending eight to nine months editing it.
It is available now to pre-order online, but it will officially be available from bookshops up and down the country, as well as across the globe, from Tuesday, June 2.
"It is getting really exciting now, there seems to be such a big build up to it," he said.
"The previews have been going well as far as I know, people have been saying really nice things about it, which is great."
He is due to tour the country and parts of Europe to promote his book and hopes to call into his hometown at some stage: "It would be nice to come back to Nuneaton to do something," he said.
Despite preparing for a whirlwind six months of promotion, Dave already has his sights set on his next novel.
"I'd like to do this for the rest of my life, I have already got a good idea for my next book," he said,.
"We will have to see what people think about this one first."
Anyone who would like to pre-order the book can do so online from most major retailers.
