A Castle Douglas media high-flyer has rekindled her passion for writing – thanks to a move back from “The Big Smoke”.
Rachael Fulton returned from London in February following three years as editor for Mark Millar of Marvel comics fame.
The former STV presenter and producer – a previous winner of Elle UK’s New Talent Award for fiction – harboured dreams of writing full-time.
But her busy life always got in the way – until parents David and Pauline asked her to help run the Kings Arms Hotel.
Now happily settled in Castle Douglas, Rachael said she had “no qualms” about coming home after a whirlwind career.
“I feel so fortunate to have been here in the country where there’s lots of open space,” she told the News.
“I definitely wanted to come back to Scotland and it’s been really nice spending time here and working with my folks.”
The talented 34-year-old has used her Galloway sojourn to good creative effect.
First, she was “highly commended” for her short story “Call” in the Bridport Prize.
Then last week Rachael celebrated another success with the publication of her short story “Blood” in “The Middle of a Sentence” anthology.
The collection also features novelists Janice Galloway, Jenni Fagan and Ron Butlin.
Rachael said: “I started writing fiction again during lockdown after a few years’ break.
“I only started submitting to competitions in late summer so it was amazing to hear back that I’d been successful.
“I’m so thrilled to have stories published in both The Middle of A Sentence and the Bridport Anthology.
“They are both such beautiful publications full of incredible writing.
“I feel very proud and privileged to be a small part of both.”
Meanwhile, Rachael plans to step up her writing – in between her shifts at the hotel.
“Hopefully there will be lots more published work to celebrate in future,” she said.
“Writing provides amazing escapism from what has been a very strange year.”
Spanish speaker Rachael is currently progressing her website www.rachaelfulton.com.
