A first novel by an Okehampton author has been launched at a festival in Dartington ? and published by a Bere Ferrers company. Maggie Clark, from Throwleigh, had her first novel, ?Through The Rock?, launched during a literary festival, selling more than 30 books. The rock in her book, which is set on Dartmoor, is both literally a massive granite rock in a stream enchanted with ancestry, and a turning point for a story of love and misunderstanding. Maggie said: ?I love Dartmoor, I have always been inspired by Dartmoor and its landscape. ?I have always been an on and off writer, always scribbling. I?ve led a very busy life and It wasn?t until later on that I started to write a lot more poetry and stories.? She has won two short story prizes and co-written a play entitled ?Snaily? with Nels Rodwell, based on a Dartmoor legend, which was performed at Exeter?s Phoenix Art Centre last year. Maggie found the locally based internet publishing venture, Goldpanner Books, through a friend after a few failed attempts at getting an agent to look at ?Through The Rock?. Goldpanner is an on-line publisher which offers new authors a chance to get their books published. It uses internet distribution and print on demand to develop a new worldwide marketplace for the books. Michael Poole, owner of Goldpanner Books, said: ?It is getting increasingly difficult for authors to get their books read by agents. There are lots of good books out there, but when people receive a lot of rejection they tend to give up and carry on with their day job.? Maggie said: ?Michael told me I should send my manuscript to him so he can see if it will sell. I received it back after one or two months saying he liked it. ?Readers have the chance to view my book on http://www.goldpanner.org">www.goldpanner.org and see one chapter from it to see if they like it, if they do they can buy it on the spot. ?This is my first novel and I am very pleased with it. I have nearly finished my second novel, and already have an idea for the third.?