A love of history and story-telling has landed a woman with a published novel.

Newly-published author - Leanda Wood with her book, There Are No Children Here. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN 40906-4

Leand Wood, of Weeley Heath, works, by day, as a medical receptionist at Clacton Hospital. But she has also found time to become a published author.

The 33-year-old's first novel, based on a young Jewish girl living in Poland during the Nazi invasion, was snapped up by Publish America in the US and is set to hit the shelves next month.

Due to its status in the States, UK stockists from WH Smith to Waterstones have already selected There Are No Children Here for their online sales, along with Amazon and Tesco.

For Mrs Wood, of Clacton Road, the whole thing has come as a surprise.

She said: "It's really weird. When I was on the internet last night I found my book on sale on all these websites. I'm just really, really chuffed."

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Published Tuesday, February 15, 2005

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