A NURSE from Newport who had to quit her job due to chronic arthritis has written her first novel.

Linda Jones, who was originally born in Malpas but has been living West Yorkshire for 16 years, struggles to hold a pen but she can use a keyboard.

The 58-year-old worked as a nurse and said she was devastated when her arthritis meant she had to give up the profession.

She said: “The arthritis first started when I became a nurse, which was one of the most fulfilling jobs I’ve ever had.

“It was exasperating; my mind was as active as ever but my body felt like it was made of lead.”

Mrs Jones said she began writing everyday with the use of a keyboard.

She then decided to join a writing group, who entered her writing into a competition.

When Mrs Jones won first prize, she was awarded mentoring through a literary scheme, which she credited with setting her on the path to writing her first novel.

She said: “The mentoring gave me the motivation to carry on and I developed my work.”

After three years of writing, independent publishers The Writing Hall picked up her book.

Her first novel, A Fistful of Feathers, is a trilogy for children aged 9-12 years, and will be officially launched at an event on May 10, in Doncaster.

"I started to dream of becoming an author but never imagined it would actually happen,” Mrs Jones added.