AN up-and-coming Colchester author has had her first novel published at the age of 75.

Great grandmother Fay Cunningham hopes her new page-turner, Sleeping Dogs, will be the first in a series of up to ten novels.

Its release comes after a lifetime of writing, being shortlisted three times for the Crime Writers’ Association’s Debut Dagger awards, and a two-year search for a publisher.

Retiring seven years ago gave Mrs Cunningham the time to concentrate on researching and writing in her Capstan Close home, where she lives with husband Maynard.

She said: “Unless you’re absolutely dedicated, you have to wait until you’re retired before you get the time to write.

“The one thing I want to get across is that you’re never too old to achieve what you want to.

“I intend to write a series and I’m halfway through a second book about the same people.”

Sleeping Dogs stars Gina Cross, a forensic artist who can reconstruct someone’s face from just their skull.

The tale takes place in the fictional town of Castlebury, but Colchester residents will recognise it as extremely similar to their town, where the Cunninghams have lived for the past 40 years.

Sleeping Dogs is released on May 29 and is available for pre-order on websites, including on Robert Hale Publishers’ website www.halebooks.com