A MOTHER inspired by her childhood teachers at an Ulverston school has realised her dream by landing a three-book publishing deal.

Karen Osman nee Whittle is adjusting to her new life as an author after she took a chance by entering an international literary competition.

After catching the writing bug as a pupil at UVHS the 38-year-old drew on her experiences as a student at Durham University to pen her first novel - The Good Mother.

Mrs Osman said: "It's a psychological thriller. It's about three women following their lives but one of the women is writing to a murderer in prison as part of a volunteer programme."

This setting draws heavily from her time at university as her dorm room overlooked one of the UK's highest security prisons - HMP Frankland.

"I always thought what would you write to a prisoner? That's where the inspiration came from," she continued.

After university Mrs Osman travelled extensively, eventually moving to Dubai in 2004 to work in marketing. After seven years she struck out alone and set up her own communications business.

Literature was never far from her mind and she decided to enter a competition for aspiring authors. Out of almost 200 entrants Mrs Osman won the Montegrappa Writing Prize at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2016.

She signed a three-book deal with UK publisher Head of Zeus with her debut novel being published on October 1 this year.

Mrs Osman said her teachers at school played a big part in encouraging her love of books and writing, she said: "I emailed my teachers to tell them about the book. They were a big inspiration. It was nice for them to hear that I'd had the book published."

The Good Mother is available to purchase through online retailers and in selected Sainsbury's stores.