BUSHEY author Lynne Shelby was 14-years-old when she sent the manuscript of her first novel to a publishing house.

Although it wasn't accepted, Lynne took heart from the publisher's kind letter of encouragement and continued pursuing her ambition.

Now, more than 40 years later, the 57-year-old has realised her dream with her début novel French Kissing which was published earlier this week.

A romance, French Kissing tells the story of childhood pen friends Alexandre, from France, and Anna from England. After meeting on a school exchange trip, they are reunited in London as adults and their friendship blossoms into romance.

When I speak to the newly-published author, she is celebrating with friends and family in Paris.

"I’m absolutely ecstatic – it’s so exciting, it really is," enthuses Lynne. "It’s literally something I’ve dreamt of and now it’s come true."

Inspiration for her novel struck Lynne several years ago, when she was travelling back from Paris with her family on the Eurostar.

"There was a young Frenchman sitting across the aisle and the whole way he was making calls to his friends in London," remembers the novelist, who is already working on her second novel about a showbusiness love triangle.

"Unfortunately we gathered from what he was saying the friends didn’t seem to want to meet him. I thought: 'That poor young man!' and I decided that one day I would write a story about a man coming from Paris to London."

It wasn't until earlier this year that Lynne spotted the Accent Press and Woman Writing Competition for new, unpublished women’s fiction writers and decided to enter her fledgling novel.

To her surprise, she won the contest - and a publishing contract - and set to work finishing the book in time for deadline in March.

The whole process took Lynne a year, but her passion for writing extends back many years.

"It’s something I’ve always done," explains the writer, who's inspired by Katie Fforde.

"I can’t remember not writing. When my children were little I would write stories at the kitchen table and waiting outside ballet lessons I’d scribble stuff. But I think it was about 18 months ago I was made redundant from my job in financial services and that really gave me the push to think: 'I’m going to really take this seriously.'"

And her advice for aspiring authors? "I would say, if possible, try and write every day," she recommends. "If you’ve got any writers’ groups near you that’s good for encouragement and to talk about writing.

"I am absolute proof that you should never give up on your dream."

French Kissing is out now. Details: accentpress.co.uk, amazon.co.uk