AN author has published the second novel in her sci-fi series focusing on society's 'obsession' with physical appearance — an idea that started when her children switched on to social media.

Soulvision is the second book in the Soulsight series written by 40-year-old Hazel Paine who lives in Braddyll Road, Over Hulton.

The story focuses on the main character Silas, who is brought up in a community where physical perfection is everything.

But Silas has a life-changing experience when he discovers a natural substance called Soulsight, which enables people to see more than people's external beauty.

Mrs Paine said: "The feel of it is kind of like Hunger Games but without a lot of the violence and it is about recognising the person within rather than focusing on the external.

"It is based in a future where people who do not look perfect or are ill are treated as sub-human, but then there is the main character Silas who can see people for who they are rather than how they look on the outside.

"The novels tackle our current obsession with physical appearance and ask the question, what would the world be like if we could see past the outside, see past looks, and see the heart and soul instead?"

Mrs Paine grew up in Ramsgate and trained as a doctor in London before she moved up to Bolton.

She has five children between the ages of 16 and seven and focused on bringing up her family for many years.

When her youngsters began using social media she began to think about society's desire for physical perfection, which she said has become worse with the advent of apps like Instagram.

This led to the publication of Soulsight, the first book in the series, in July last year.

She said: "My daughter is into her social media and she'd be saying things like 'why can't I be that thin' and I have seen all the stories about issues with anorexia that teenagers have had to try and be 'perfect'.

"It's all these Instagram celebrities who are posting all of these pictures of themselves and then you hear people's heartbreaking stories about how it has had an effect on their lives.

"I just thought 'I need to be a voice here' and to try and bring to life what was really important. That is what started the idea in my head."

Miss Paine held a launch party for Soulvision at the Hope Centre, Westhoughton, on Sunday.

She is not a full-time author but currently does some work at Cool Canvas in Halliwell.