A novice who put together a children’s book on the off-chance it may be published was “astonished” that it actually was.

Sixty-year-old Sheralee French, who lives in Stanborough Avenue, Borehamwood, wrote Serena, a story based in India and England.

Serena is a tiger cub who has the power to turn herself into a stuffed toy just by saying the magic word. The tiger cub makes plenty of friends along the way, both with humans and animals, including an English family of springer spaniels.

Her inspiration came from a holiday to India with her husband, Martyn, and they brought back with them a stuffed tiger toy.

It is the first book Mrs French has ever even attempted to write. It took around six months to put together and says the biggest challenge was getting it finished, as she juggled her job with her new hobby.

The book, which is also available in audio form, could be turned into an animated film too.

Following the success of her maiden book, Mrs French said: “I’ve got the bug for it now and I’m definitely going to be writing another one. I sent this one to a publisher and to my astonishment they took it. It is going to go to more than 12 countries.”

For every book sold, a donation will be made to children’s cancer charity, the Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund.

The book can be found online at https://www.amazon.com/Serena-Sheralee-French/dp/172838088X