Dyslexic Tadley author's debut novel published after wait of over two decades

Spiritual novelist Tina Hobbs’ debut novel Day Trips to Heaven was published by Local Legend.
And Ms Hobbs, who has spent 22 years trying to have her book published, said: “Persistence, or stubbornness, has paid off.
“Finally I found someone who is prepared to work with a dyslexic writer with a story to tell and to invest their time and expertise in getting it ready for publication.”
Ms Hobbs discovered Local Legend after coming runner-up in a spiritual writing competition run by the magazine, Kindred Spirit.
She said: “Nigel Peace at Local Legend still wanted to publish my novel, even though he has had to put up with my dyslexic spelling.”
Ms Hobbs revealed how dyslexia had affected her school life and said: “The first time I heard of dyslexia I had already left school after suffering humiliation and frustration, being classed as lazy or stupid.
“I knew I was neither but I still couldn’t keep up with my friends, even though I did twice the work they did.”
Her novel revolves around a fictional character called Ethan, a spirit-guide-in-training who is encouraged by an archangel to help three people to take a short trip to Heaven.
The book was inspired by a friend’s grandson, who, after his grandfather died, said he would ‘like to be able to get a train ticket to go to Heaven so he could have the chance to say goodbye to him properly’.
Day Trips to Heaven (ISBN 978-1-907203-99-2), costs £10.
For more details visit www.local-legend.co.uk, or www.tjhobbs.co.uk