A MOTHER of seven from Weymouth is living her dream of becoming a published author.

Kate Knight, from Preston, has had her first children’s book published, with a novel to follow in the coming months.

Her first published story, Woody and Louis and the Big Yellow Thing, is available to buy online and at Waterstones.

It is the first in a series of children’s books, focusing on a variety of social and environmental issues.

Five of Mrs Knight’s seven children still live at home, so she makes sure to write in the evenings when she can enjoy some peace and quiet.

She said: “I have written for 25 years but I never thought I was good enough. It was just a hobby really.

“I never dreamed I’d be published.

“My husband had a friend who edits books so my husband suggested I ask him to take a look at my novel.

“I handed him the book and said, 'it’s probably rubbish - if it is, tell me', but he said it was great and edited it for me.”

She has been coming up with stories throughout her entire life although she did not always commit them to paper.

Her first novel, Fiona and the Champions of Everley, is actually based on a tale she used to tell to her younger sisters as a bedtime story.

Mrs Knight said: “I used to read them stories and we ran out of books so I made them up. I first came up with the story of Fiona to get them to go to bed at night.

“The story has just been in my head for years and I eventually wrote it down.”

The Woody and Louis story centres around a same-sex woodlouse couple who adopt seven woodlouse children and a ladybird. Mrs Knight believes it is important to educate children on social issues.

She added: “I want to normalise these things rather than make it an issue. It's important that kids understand that these are normal, everyday things.

“I’m a great believer that everyone is equal and labels don’t matter. At the end of the day, you are who you are.”

Woody and Louis and the Big Yellow Thing can be purchased for £6.50 at www.gingerfyrepress.com