A LIBRARY assistant who worked at Bidford library, Jackie Andrews has embarked upon a new career and written a novel.

Ms Andrews from Wellesbourne has written her first novel for teenagers, Blood Feud which will be published in April. The novel is the first in an exciting fantasy series for teenagers.

The second novel, Deadly Encounters is due to be published next Spring with book three, Sinister Shifters completing the series.

Ms Andrews works as a library assistant at the Harbury library near Leamington Spa has worked in the Bidford library to supplement her freelance work.

The novelist worked as a freelance writer, reader and editor for the past 11 years and hopes her book with a feisty likeable heroine on the cover will win fans.

Ms Andrews said: "I was concerned about the way teenage fiction these days is becoming so dark and depressing and lacking in either humour or hope. I wanted to create characters that not only had appealing personalities but who had a sense of humour to life them out of the various sticky situations in which they might find themselves."

Blood Feud published in April is available to readers from bookshops throughout the Vale.

The library assistant who lives alone with her much beloved pets has just completed another novel, Peanut's book.

The book about a guinea pig called Peanut sits at home watching her author, who they name Ortha writing away. After watching her Ortha write a novel, Peanut decides to do the same.

Jackie added: "Needless to say the book is heavily autobiography and full of irony! I guess it's a kind of Dick King-Smith meets Meg Cabot and pitched at children aged eight and above. I'm hopeful Peanut will become famous."