A CULLINGWORTH children’s author has published some of her books in paperback for the first time.

Laura Edmonds has written 110 books in her series Building Memories, but now until now they have only been available online.

She this month saw the first 11 appear in print, with a launch at the 3 Acres restaurant near Cullingworth.

Laura started writing around four years ago whilst pregnant with her second child and facing up to becoming a single mother.

She said: “I decided to follow the dream I'd had whilst at school, of becoming a writer, but I’d never dared to dream I would be ‘good enough’.

On maternity leave from a children’s palliative care team, Laura decided to write a book about death for children that would be different to the “dreadful” leaflet they were normally given.

She said: “I started writing, more ideas sparked and suddenly the topics I had in my mind were out of control.

“There really was so many things our children struggled with understanding because us as parents didn't really know how to talk to them and explain.”

Laura carried out research, and created 10 child characters who could help youngsters understand issues such as death, disability, same-sex marriages and alcoholism.

She said: “Although that sounds terrifying, it really isn't, I worked hard to make sure these books left children wanting to know only what they needed and were able to understand.

“They’re stories anyone can read, not just because you have an "issue" but because they're just good honest books. I knew I needed these books to reach all children."

Laura’s 110 books are available as eBooks in 70 countries, for machines such as the Kindle and iBook from websites such as Amazon.

Visit buildingmemories.co.uk or call 01535 523187 for more details of the paperback versions of the books.