AN author who has had her first book published aged 71 is to hold a book signing at Tennants Auction rooms in Leyburn.

Victoria Pike, who has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for almost 20 years, is donating half of the earnings from the book to a Parkinson’s charity.

Entitled Awkward Rhymes and the Spaces in Between, the book consists of 12 short stories interspersed with 12 poems. Due to the pandemic, Victoria had been unable to publicise her book until Rodney and Lesley Tennant offered to hold a book signing event at the Garden Rooms in Tennant’s Auction house on Saturday, September 11 from noon until 2pm.

Victoria has been writing as a sideline since the 1970s, whilst running a vintage clothes stall in the Portobello Road market. After moving to Wensleydale, she sold textiles in Leyburn market, whilst amassing a large amount of written material, which she is currently sorting out with a view to future publication.

The subjects of the stories in her first book cross borders and continents and travel from Victorian times to the present day. Two of the stories are set in Wensleydale with one featuring the Wensleydale Railway.

Actor Christopher Timothy, a frequent visitor to the Dales, who played James Herriot in the original All Creatures Great and Small TV series, is recommending Victoria’s book. He said: “I so enjoyed Victoria’s first published book, without being mawkish or sentimental, her words reached out to me, I enjoyed every word and look forward to her next publication with great interest.”

Stella Whitelaw MBE, the award winning author, who has had nearly 100 books published said: “I have recently read Victoria’s book and I very much love all of her poems.”

The book is available through Waterstones, Amazon, Matador and Tennant’s Gift Shop. Helen Matthews, deputy chief executive of the Cure Parkinson’s Charity thanked Victoria for her generosity and the Tennant family for hosting the signing event.