A RETIRED journalist who has travelled the world writing has published her first novel.

Penny Destro, of Main Road, Great Oakley, has had success with short-stories, been a magazine editor, and worked as a newspaper journalist.

But for the first time she has written and published a full-length novel, Year of the Decree Absolute, described as a humorous and heart-warming tale of divorce.

The grandmother, who splits her time between the UK and the Middle East where her husband works in the merchant navy, says writing a book has been a lifelong dream.

Year of the Decree Absolute is available at local bookshops including Caxton Books in Frinton as well as Amazon, where it has received a five-star rating.