AN AUTHOR has revealed she wrote her debut novel in the back of a 12 tonne horsebox.

Former Pool-in-Wharfedale resident Jan Birley's first full-length work of fiction, Planet Fran - Population One, is a comedy set in the world of horse-riding.

The book was created while Jan, who is publishing the work under the pseudonym Josie King, was taking her daughter to British Eventing competitions around the country.

A working mum who runs her own IT consultancy, Jan decided taking her laptop with her to every event and training session was the only way to get the novel done.

Planet Fran follows the exploits of Fran McBride, who has an amazing business idea but no money to get it off the ground.

When she is offered the chance of investment it comes with a condition attached - Fran, who doesn't like horses, has to learn to ride and win an equestrian competition.

Jan, who took up riding and eventing later in life, admits she drew on her own initial struggles with horsemanship when describing Fran's exploits.

The author also explains why she didn't publish the novel under her own name. She said: "I’ve wanted to write a book for over twenty years.

"The once I'd done it, in January another author called Jan Birley released a book which took all the Google search traffic for my name.

"You couldn’t write this stuff!"

Early reviews of pre-release copies of Planet Fran, which is published by BoxTree Media Ltd and can be ordered at Josiekingbooks.com, have been glowing.