Warrington author releases first instalment of her trilogy (From Crewe Guardian)

Warrington author releases first instalment of her trilogy

4:14pm Tuesday 8th April 2008 in Lifestyle

A HISTORY graduate from Warrington has had her debut children's novel published after finding inspiration in Egypt.

Andrea Gouk, from Winwick, was inspired to write Tales of the Smiling Buddha after travelling to the country with her husband 10 years ago.

Writing the tale was also an opportunity for Andrea to put her history skills to use as the novel, aimed at 11-year-olds and older, combines fiction with reality by including aspects of historical significance, such as the terracotta warriors and ancient Egyptian artefacts.

Caught up in a world of time-travel, the book follows a boy and his cousin on an adventure through time tangled in a battle between good and evil with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Juggling writing with being a full-time mum to her two sons, and teaching adults at Padgate College, the 38-year-old took five years to complete the novel.

She said: "Writing a book is something I had always wanted to do. I have always enjoyed writing and feel that it's something I am good at.

"The book finishes on a cliffhanger and leads on to a sequel."