A LIFELONG dream to write a novel has been achieved by a Horsforth woman who penned the work as she mourned the loss of her father.

Jane C McDermott decided to follow her dream after the death of her father, Eric Thompson, a year ago.

Jane, 47, based her story in Horsforth, where she was born and brought up. The work has gained an international audience - selling as far away as Arizona and California.

Hopes, Dreams & Houses follows the life and tribulations of teenager Clare and her quest to find true love and a perfect happy ever after life.

Starting in 1986 it is a nostalgic 80s’ tale of teenage dreams and hopes for the future.

The book is available on Amazon and was published by Create Space Independent Publishing platform.

It can also be bought at The Olde Booths Tea Rooms in Pudsey and at The Hive Charlotte Boyes salon in Stanningley.

Jane, who now lives in Pudsey with her husband Steve and her children Bethany, 21, and George. 18, said: “I have always wanted to write a book but kept it to myself. The story has been with me for years.

“Family life kept me busy and it wasn’t until the passing of my dad last year that I suddenly realised I had a fair bit of time of my hands.

“I had helped to look after my dad for a few years and the realisation that he no longer needed me and also that my children were grown up and independent made it possible for me to write the book.

“I had always had the story, the beginning and the middle and once I started everything just fell into place.

“As the story is based in Horsforth, where I grew up, I found myself including a lot of my childhood memories.

“For all the story is fiction it does have a lot of memories for me and I realised on completion of the book that it helped me in my grieving process.”

She added: “It follows the life of a teenager, you see her through births, deaths and marriages and get to meet her very funny family along the way.

“The book has so far been very well received, not only to local people but it has been sold to Arizona and California.”