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 In 1969 Peter OŽDonnel was asked if he could imagine writing a Gothic novel for Souvenir Press. He was not particularly enthusiastic about it, but let himself be persuaded to give it a try - under a female alias, though, because this kind of books was meant for a mainly female audience. Peter OŽDonnell decided upon the name Madeleine Brent. MB - Modesty BlaiseŽs initials ...
Peter OŽDonnell wrote the first four chapters as an experiment, then heard no more about it for a long time, until an American publisher got hold of the manuscript and was enthused. Now Peter had a problem. Because heŽd never thought the project would be a success he had no idea how his story was going to end ...
But TregaronŽs Daughter proved to be a great success in America as well as in Europe and eight further novels of this genre followed. His American publisher never learnt that Madeleine Brent was a nom de plume for more than twenty years and the correspondence invariably went to Dear Madeleine. To give his signature a more female touch Peter OŽDonnell had his wife sign the answering letters.
And of course Madeleine Brent could never personally receive the literary awards she won with her novels ...
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