LESLIE Thomas (pictured), the Man with the Golden Typewriter, spurned the salons of London to launch his latest book in Newport's Ottakars bookshop last night.

As the piles of books for signing rapidly diminished and he continued to flourish the well-known signature, the author revealed that his wartime childhood in Newport had been a part of his inspiration for Waiting For The Day.

"The things you see as a child remain with you and always come out in your writing," he said.

"Dramatic or touching events become fixed in your mind. Coming in to Newport station tonight I remembered an instant I glimpsed during the war.

"A man was being tearfully seen off by his wife, but as his train pulled out of the station, he spotted her, with their child, being embraced by another man.

"That sort of story sticks with you."

Waiting For The Day has already received rave reviews. It is the story of several people, British, American and German, as 1943 turns into 1944 and the build-up to the Allied invasion of Europe begins.

One of the people at the Ottakars signing was Terry Underwood, a childhood friend of the author.

"There's a lot in here for Newport people," Mr Underwood, of Christchurch, Newport, said.

"Leslie lived near me in Somerton before his father was killed in the war and he went to Barnados.

"He's a Newport boy made good, and it's nice to see him back and to share memories. Newport definitely has a soft spot for him."

*Waiting For The Day, by Leslie Thomas, is published by William Heinemann at £14.99.