A LAWYER who who switched careers to become a novelist after turning 40 has penned her second book.

Former Bolton School pupil Melissa Bailey was given a book deal by top publishing company Random House after penning her debut novel two years ago.

Now the 43-year-old — a member of the Prime Writers group, made up of novelists who all published their first work when they were over 40 — has released her second book Beyond the Sea.

The Oxford graduate, who still practises media law part-time, is now busy working on her third novel.

She said: "I think one of the best things about writing is getting paid for daydreaming.

"A big part of the writing process involves coming up with ideas, pulling storylines out of your head.

"Equally, when the writing isn’t going smoothly and the words just won’t flow, it can seem like the most isolated, difficult job ever.

"But, when it goes well, there’s no feeling in the world to beat it."

Beyond the Sea is set among the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Isles and tells the story of Freya, who a year after the death of her husband and son, returns to the lighthouse-keeper's cottage on a remote Hebridean island where she and her family lived.

Melissa, originally from Atherton, said: "The book grew out of a single image that had taken root in my mind — a woman with white hair, standing on a tiny island, alone, a lighthouse in the near distance behind her.

"After lots of research, a novel emerged."

Her first book The Medici Mirror was published in 2013.

She added: "It was part historical, part supernatural love story, part ghost story, moving between the sixteenth century and twenty-first century London.

"Beyond the Sea, while set in the Hebrides, a completely different location, is also a love story with a ghostly theme.

"There’s also a historical element — the discovery of ancient letters which tell of loneliness and loss."

Melissa, who wrote poems and short stories as a teenager added: "I can’t say much about the next book but I will tell you that it’s about madness."

To find out more about Beyond the Sea watch the video trailer at theboltonnews.co.uk