Garden shed hits write note for Pelsall author

Every man loves his shed. But for Steve Jones, his garden retreat is more about poems and plays than shovels and spades.

The 59-year-old, who works as a fire engineering estimator, has been writing in his shed for almost a decade - and has now got his first book published.

Mr Jones set up his shed at his home in St Johns Road, Pelsall, for his studies when he signed up to a creative writing course at Birmingham University nine years ago.

He has now written a supernatural detective fiction novel called Kanita's Story, partly based on his own life.

The father-of-three said: "The story is in two parts. The first part is a story about Kanita who comes from Thailand and goes to study creative writing at Birmingham University.

"She goes on to write a book about a group of people who solve moral and ethical crimes.

"It's a supernatural crime thriller. I've printed 50 copies and am contacting publishers. I write in my shed which I got when I started my creative writing course. It's something I always wanted to do.

"If I can get this book published, I will be fulfilling a lifetime wish."

Mr Jones said time spent writing has been an inspiration and support during tough times in his personal life.

"Writing is very therapeutic, for the last three years I have been looking after my father who is ill and my mother who is in the last stages of Alzheimers.

"The book has helped me get through it by taking my mind of it."

By Lisa O'Brien