A WEAVERHAM woman who published her first novel after spending almost three decades in the civil service is gearing up to release her new book.

Gill Atkinson began writing in retirement as she found it helped ease her depression, something she has battled her entire life.

Her debut novel, Secret of the Fireflies, set in Manchester and Weaverham, was released in February this year.

The crime-thriller tells the story of a fugitive on the run for murder and was the first in a planned trilogy.

Set 13 years after the first book, Fireflies 2: The Revenge sees one of the characters, now grown, seek revenge for the murder of his father.

Gill said: “Because this lad is after revenge, it had to be darker in a sense, a little bit more violent.

“It is sort of personal, there is a bit of me getting revenge. It helped me. It helped me move on.”

Gill began working on Fireflies 2: The Revenge almost immediately after completing her debut book.

“It has helped me,” she said. “I have always suffered from depression throughout my life. I find that when I am writing it is like escapism.

“It’s like I am not me, I am this person watching the character, seeing what they are doing.

“When I stop writing I feel a bit lost. I felt better about myself when I was writing the first one.

“With the second one I couldn’t wait to get started. It is like I am not me anymore.”

Gill sold around 100 copies of the first book and said has had lots of positive feedback from readers.

“I am quite glad I can bring some sort of pleasure to people,” she said. “I only really broke even last time but that is not what it is about.

“It’s just about escapism top me and bringing some pleasure to a few people. I am not writing to live, to feed myself. It is more of a hobby for me, it is therapeutic.”

Fireflies 2: Revenge is available to purchase from Amazon Books now.

An official launch and signing will take place at Northwich Memorial Court on Tuesday, December 12, from 6pm until 8pm.