LOCHORE author John McIvor admitted on Friday that he never ever thought 10 years ago he would be writing books.

Having worked in the nuclear industry since his days at Rosyth Dockyard the former St Kenneth's Primary School pupil is currently based at Sellafield in Cumbria but over the past few weeks has been dotting about the country promoting his book 'The Secret Of The Crystal Mace'.

The amazing thing about the book is that he has been able to include his brothers and sisters in characters in the book and also his late mum and dad and the compelling story also has a strong anti-bullying thread to it.

Said John: "The inspiration to write the The Secret of the Crystal Mace came from my late mother, but if you had said to me eight to ten years ago that I would have published a novel I would have laughed.

"However, the inspiration just came to me at my mother's funeral and I immediately started putting the book together.

"Bullying is something I feel very strongly about. I was lucky not to have experienced it either at St Kenneth's or at St Columba's High, in Dunfermline, but when I realised that there are so many elements to it today through cyber bullying that I felt I should bring it into the book and try and leave a message.

"My aim is to ensure that young people reading the book know that there is help available to combat bullying and numbers that can be contacted for assistance. They do not have to suffer in silence."

John already has his second book, 'The Return of BAddagro', compiled and plans to have it published in November.

"BAddagro is the evil baddie from The Secret of the Crystal Mace who just does not want to go away and he is back to pose more concerns for people, but then he does not get things his own way!"

John has been greatly encouraged by the early returns from the release of The Secret of the Crystal Mace and it is available online at Amazon, Waterstones, Foyles and in some book shops.

Will there be a third book: "I am really proud of the two I have written so you never know!"