A VALE man realised a lifelong ambition when he decided to take a break from his day to day life and write a novel.

And the decision by Alan Boyes proved to be a great one as his debut thriller novel, Dreams to Die For, has been a success with readers.

The book sees the 7/7 terrorist bombing of London and the clearance of insurgents in Baghdad after the fall of Saddam Hussein as the catalysts for the dangerous journeys of two women as they endeavour to fulfil their dreams.

Mr Boyes, the long time chairman of Pershore Duplicate Bridge club, said he wanted to examine how tragic events can change people's lives.

"I have always held the ambition to write and eventually decided I just had to devote the necessary time to it," said the 66-year-old. "I am really pleased the book is now published and receiving some excellent reviews.

"My job was in business systems at an insurance company so quite different from writing. I hadn't written a novel before this.

"I spent a long time researching and thinking about what to write. I wanted to examine two different people from different cultures, the character of Yasmin is in Iraq while the other part of the story is set in London and the UK.

"I wanted to explore how unexpected and tragic events can change people's lives and bring it together in an exciting story."

And with feedback including comments such as, 'This is a first class book that it's difficult to put down', Mr Boyes said he thinks he will pen another novel.

"I will probably write another book," he added. "At the moment I am thinking and researching it again. I can't just write I have to research the back ground first."

For more information or to buy the novel visit troubador.co.uk/book_info.asp?bookid=2389.