ALL first-time author Val Sheppard wanted was for her best friend to hold a copy of her debut novel.

But her hopes were dashed after the death of her friend, Joey, in March.

Val’s debut novel, Is Anyone Listening, was published in April, a month after the best friend who had encouraged her to pursue her literary dream died.

Val, 52, describes her novel as “a tragic love story with a nasty twist at the end.”

It tells the story of Angela, a young woman working in a police control room.

“All she wants is to be married,” said Val. “She wants to be part of this coupledom that everyone seems so happy in.”

But life doesn’t turn out quite as she expects when, hoping to end the relationship, she travels to Scotland with her boring new boyfriend.

In Scotland she discovers all her family are there for a surprise wedding – hers.

The book is only partly inspired by Val’s own experience.

Although the grandmother of six previously worked in a police control room, she has been happily married for 27 years.

From an early age Val, who was born in Pinehurst has been an avid reader.

“I always had my nose in a book,” she said.

She had never tried to write her own book until a recurring dream led her into her new career.

“Years ago I had this dream about a woman being stuck in a bubble. She kept trying to tell people: ‘help me, help me.’ But nobody was listening.”

“I told my best friend, who said to write it down. Apparently if you have a dream and you can’t get rid of it, if you write it down you get rid of it.”

“And so five hundred pages later…”

The same best friend, Joey, encouraged Val to keep writing.

But tragedy struck earlier this year.

“My biggest regret is that my friend died in March so she didn’t get to hold it. It’s dedicated to her.”

The novel was turned down by several publishers until it was at last accepted by London-based Austin Macauley.

“They said send us the first ten pages, then they said send us the first three chapters, and then they said send them the whole lot.”

Author Val has already started on her next novel.

“It’s another love story,” she said.

“But again it’s got quite a nasty twist to it.

“Because life’s like that, isn’t it? You don’t just kiss somebody and everything goes rosy red for the rest of your life. It just doesn’t.”

Her husband isn’t worried about the broken hearts that litter Val’s novels, she says

“When I wrote the book I read it to him.

“I’ve been married 27 years. He just thinks that it’s quirky.”

Is Anyone Listening by Val Sheppard can be bought on Amazon, RRP £11.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anyone-Listening-Valerie-Sheppard/dp/1785540939.