A Dorchester writer has an exciting time ahead as she continues to build her skills.

Fiction writer Gail Aldwin won the Bournemouth National Poetry Day competition in 2016 and has continued to write short stories and poetry. Chapeltown Books published twenty-seven of her short stories earlier this year in a collection titled Paisley Shirt but Gail has continued to seek a home for her poetry.

Her persistence has now been rewarded with the offer to publish a pamphlet of poetry.

Gail entered a poetry competition run by The Student Wordsmith, an organisation based in Loughborough. She presented six poems on the theme of siblings and was awarded joint first place. Now she is tasked with writing another twenty poems on this theme and looks forward to publication at the end of 2018.

Speaking about the upcoming work, Gail said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to working with The Student Wordsmith."

The Student Wordsmith is an online writing and publishing community founded by Dr Sophie-Louise Hyde.

Gail is also chairman of the Dorset Writers’ Network and works with the steering group to inspire writers and connect creative communities.

Paisley Shirt can be purchased from Waterstones in Dorchester and Bridport, Bookshop Bridport, Serendip in Lyme Regis, Gullivers in Wimborne and The Swanage Bookshop.