A WEST Devon author with 22 novels to her name is now dipping into the world of e-books with her latest work.

Margaret Duffy, 70, lives in Dousland and has been writing since 1987. Most of her books have been crime-related, including 16 novels in the popular Ingrid Langley and Patrick Gillard series.

Margaret said: 'I started writing science fiction in about 1980, but that time unless you were Arthur C Clark, nobody wanted to know you, so I changed genre.'

That genre introduced Patrick Gillard, a retired army officer trying to re-build his life after serious injuries in the field, and his wife, Ingrid Langley. A Murder of Crows was her first published book in a series which has gone from strength to strength.

'I have this set of characters that my publishers really want me to stick with, so it's an ongoing story really,' said Margaret, who said many of her ideas for plotlines came from news and current affairs.

And in the age of the internet, research has never been easier.

'You can go on websites and find out just about everything now. Once upon a time you had to go to the library for hours, although it's obviously also helpful to have contacts, particularly in the police,' said Margaret.

The internet world is the place to find her latest novel, Archangel Jim, an e-book published by the locally-based ActiveSprite Press.

'It's a complete one-off for me, it's for the sort of children who would read Harry Potter, although I think anybody young at heart would enjoy it — it's a progression from one of my science fiction stories,' said Margaret.

The heroine of the book is Molly Rossiter, known as Mog, and her 'guardian angel', Jim. The book is initially set in London but the action moves to Cornwall, to where Molly and her family flee after her father is let out of prison.

But Cornwall proves no safe haven, as Molly's grandmother wants nothing to do with the family and Lance, her father, is making his way towards them.

Can guardian angel Jim help or is he just a figment of Molly's imagination?

Margaret, who is also a keen gardener and cook, said she wrote as much as she could, given time constraints now her husband was retired.

Each novel takes about a year to complete and Margaret writes 'when the muse is there', rather than sticking to a set routine. She normally works for a few hours at a time.

'It's no good staring at a blank screen for ages, any more than it is staring at a blank piece of paper,' she said.

For more information go to http://www.margaretduffy.co.ukArchangel">www.margaretduffy.co.ukArchangel Jim is published by ActiveSprite Press. Amazon Kindle E-book: 978-0-9574821-0-4; ASIN: B0092Q8KLE.

l Pictures courtesy of ActiveSprint Press.