A WOMAN who has written and illustrated two short stories says she was inspired by her own pets and the area in which she lives.

Artist Jo Brodie, from Cockfield, near Barnard Castle, has just completed her books, The Snow Queen and The Heaven Diaries.

The Snow Queen tells the story of a mysterious being who rises from the snow and was inspired from a winter walk in Teesdale.

“I was walking the dogs in Copley Woods when we had the fabulous heavy snow and I thought ‘Wouldn’t be amazing to see a magical woman rise from the snow’.

“I went home and started drawing a picture.”

The second story, The Heaven Diaries, tells the story of a greyhound who dies and takes a look back on the ups and downs of his life from heaven.

“The book is really for anybody who has had a dog and had loved it, because you can’t help but form a bond with your animals,” said Mrs Brodie.

“The books were quite nice to write because I’ve been painting for 45 years. It was lovely to be able to illustrate my own stories because I knew exactly what I wanted.”

Both books cost £4.99 and 50p from every sale of The Heaven Diaries goes towards Tailends, a charity which cares for terminally ill and elderly animals.

For more details about the books, which are suitable for over-eights, e-mail jo_brodie@hotmail.com or call 01388-710776.

● A mental health worker, who once suffered with depression, has celebrated the publication of his first book.

Lawrence Butterfield, from Guisborough, launched his new book during Mental Health Action Week.

Sticks and Stones details his 30 years experience working within psychiatric hospitals and looks to the future of mental health care.

Mr Butterfield said: “My father was in and out of psychiatric hospitals when I was a child, which prompted my interest in mental health issues.”

Mr Butterfield, 48, has experienced the other side of mental health care when he had to take two months off from work in 2008 owing to serious depression.

Mr Butterfield said: “I was fortunate that I had a supportive employer during this time. I have remained mentally well since.”

Sticks and Stones is available from Waterstones in Middlesbrough, the Guisborough Bookshop and chipmunkapublishing.co.uk, priced at £12.