Diane does it by the book

12:27pm Sunday 18th May 2008

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A WEAVERHAM writer is setting her sights on having more books published after the release of her debut offering.

Diane Shaw, 63, of Moss Street, has been on a book signing tour after the release of her first children's story, Septimus Smythe and the Spectre Detectives.

Someone said to me a couple of years ago ‘have you managed to get anything published?’, but since giving up my full time teaching role I’ve had more time to concentrate on it.

Writer Diane Shaw

She said that her writing originally started off as a hobby, after she left her position as a teacher.

"Someone said to me a couple of years ago have you managed to get anything published?', but since giving up my full time teaching role I've had more time to concentrate on it.

"I eventually found a publisher who wanted to have my work. It took quite a few months, because it takes time for them to make a decision.

"I'm on my fourth book at the moment, and I'm just waiting for it to be picked up."

The book is a comic ghost story and targets the seven to nine-year-old age range.

It centres around Septimus the ghost, whose successful haunting career seems to be at stake when he starts getting stuck in walls and reappearing at the wrong time.

Diane, who is a part time teacher at Hartford Manor Primary, and former teacher at Park Road Primary in Trafford, has said she is taking the book into the schools.

"I have been asked back to Park Road, where they will be using it as a guided reading book for year three and four children. They will also be using it as a library book.

"Once they have read it, I have been invited back and the children will ask me question's about it."

She will be at the Border's Bookshop at Cheshire Oaks on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25, where she will be signing copies of her book.

l Congratulate Diane on our website, northwichguardian.co.uk/ forums.