A BUDDING writer from Evesham is hoping to make it big after publishing his first novel.

Paul Griffiths this week launched his horror/fantasy work Stream Liner Of The Lost Souls, the fruit of 13 months' endeavour.

The Clive Barker-wannabe started the work as a form of escapism and denies that Littleworth, the drug-riven urban dystopia that is the background of the novel, is a reflection of the Evesham he grew up in!

"It just started as a form of escapism for me, I honestly can't remember why I started writing it," said Paul, who recently moved to Swindon to launch his own mortgage company.

"It just grew from there."

The novel is about the efforts of Shannon, an orphan, and her brother to escape the world of Littleworth, a struggle which intensifies after the brother has a nightmarish encounter.

The wordsmith opted for the self-publishing route, rather than hawking his work around publishing houses. "I bottled it," he admitted.

American firm iUniverse is printing the book, which is on sale for £8.10 through Amazon.co.uk and its American equivalent.

Paul is coy about whether he would like to be a full-time writer.

However, he admits it would be a temptation if success came calling either side of the Atlantic.

"I've already got a business doing mortgages which I only set up 15 months ago and I can't see myself becoming a full-time writer, but you never know," he added.