Stephen Hilliam, a retired teacher, (61) from West Ewell recently fulfilled a dream that he has had for more than 50 years when his first children's book , 'Lisa the Moaner' was published by Onwards & Upwards publishers.

Sitting in a classroom when he was ten reading C.S. Lewis' 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' he was so taken with the wonder of the book that he vowed to one day write a novel of his own. However a teaching career, family commitments and life in general meant that he was never able to devote enough time to that dream. He sent stories off but all were rejected until he retired early from teaching and was finally able to give sufficient time to revising and improving his work.

Now the first of four novels that have been accepted by his publisher is in print and is on sale online and at bookshops.

Based on information supplied by Stephen Hilliam.