A DEBUT novel by a former Ledbury schoolboy is tipped to follow in the footsteps of the Harry Potter phenomenon.

Malvern-raised author Graham Gardner has received a six-figure advance for Inventing Elliot, his debut novel, which is being printed in several languages around the world.

Loosely based around Orwell's 1984, Inventing Elliot follows a 14-year-old boy whose family life has been torn apart and who is being tormented at school. After moving to a new town he reinvents himself as 'cool', but finds his new school is run by a secret group of pupils, The Guardians. Thanks to his new persona he is invited to join The Guardians, but soon his loyalties conflict.

Born in Kidderminster, the 27-year-old writer moved to Malvern in 1983 and attended John Masefield High School and sixth form.

After leaving school, he worked in the book department at WH Smith before gaining a first-class degree in geography and a PhD from the University of Wales. He now divides his time between Aberystwyth, where he works as a research assistant, and his parents' home in Birtsmorton.

Graham said the book took a year to write and was finished in the summer of 2000. The first two publishers he approached turned the book down. However, shortly afterwards Orion Books snapped it up and took the manuscript to the Frankfurt Book Fair, where interest was high.

Graham signed a £40,000 contract with Orion and a $100,000 deal with Penguin in the US.

"It's a huge amount," he admitted.

"I've always been a really keen reader and have written since I was able to read for myself. Since the sales of Harry Potter everyone has been trying to get a piece of the action. I'd love to have JK Rowling's sales, I think that Harry Potter books are great, but I'm going for a slightly different market. This book is strictly social realism."

A sequel to Inventing Elliot is already in the pipeline, but Graham could not be enticed to reveal more.

"I think I'll wait and see how well it does," he said. "You're only as good as your last book."

Graham will be signing copies of his book at Ledbury Books and Maps on Saturday, March 22, between 11am and 1pm.