TWO Monmouthshire authors are reaping the rewards of a labour of love with the publication of a new book each.

Caldicot crime fighter Rich Pitman reached the top 12 in the People's Book Prize 2013 for his first effort, Jimmy Threepwood and the Veil of Darkness, which sold around 800 copies.

Now the sequel, Jimmy Threepwood and the Elixir of Light is ready to roll, part of his five-book deal with Ghostly Publishing.

Mr Pitman, 33, believes his background as a police sergeant lends itself to writing this kind of novel. "I wanted to write a book from the angle of the villain," he said.

"The first book is a bit dark, how Jimmy tries to take over the world but the second one I bring in the good characters."

After an article appeared in the Free Press about the People's Book Prize, Mr Pitman was contacted by schools for book workshops.

So far he has been to around 20, in places like Chepstow, Weston-Super-Mare and Cirencester.

He talks to pupils about how to create a character and describe things, then leaves them with teachers to let their pens run wild.

With children his key critics, he was pleased to hear one thought his first book was "as good as Harry Potter."

Managing director of his publishing company, Neil Trigger, agrees: "Since before Harry Potter, fantasy heroes have been doing good and always fighting the forces of evil, yet in Jimmy Threepwood, we have a truly messed-up character that is torn between his conscience and having to destroy the world.

"He's not afraid of doing bad things if they're necessary for the greater good, but he doesn't like it. It's a very delicate subject and I think Rich steers us through it with skill and sensitivity."

Former Sixties model Alexandra Parsons, who lives near Abergavenny, wanted to have her book Cappuccino Kiss published to give to her dad, but sadly he died two days beforehand in April.

Ron Holding was 97, and inspired by his daughter, who also used to teach, he wrote his own book called 'Holding On.'

This was about his life story, how he moved from Ebbw Vale to London, meeting millionaires along the way, before coming back to Wales.

Mrs Parsons, 63, saw her creation make the internet as an e-book before she rushed to get 200 copies published in paperback.

She said: "I wanted to be able to take my book into dad in the nursing home as he found it difficult to read on a Kindle. He wrote his by dictating it to me, I typed it up and read it to him. Parts were read out at his funeral."

Mrs Parsons, who gave up work at 53 to move to Wales to be closer to her parents and took writing up as a hobby, aims to get her father's book published too.

For a signed copy of Cappuccino Kiss, email alexandraparsonsuk@yahoo.co.uk.

Jimmy Threepwood and the Elixir of Light is available to pre-order from GhostlyPublishing.com priced at £7.99.