A former banker is seeking success in the world of writing, with his new novel based on extensive research on Kosovan refugees.

Alan Reynolds, of Ben Rhydding, recreated the experiences of women fleeing war in 1999, drawing on real life stories and carefully researched dates and facts.

His new novel, Flying With Kites, is already selling as an electronic book on website Amazon, and he may publish the book in print.

The story follows fictitious school teacher and English graduate, Katya Gjikolli, and her baby son, as they initially flee Serb militia, escape to a squalid refugee camp in Macedonia, and are eventually resettled in a tower block in Newcastle.

The book also shows the differing experiences of the educated Katya, and another refugee who speaks no English.

Mr Reynolds, 64, was inspired by unrelated events which affected a friend, and he tried to imagine the kind of circumstances under which such a situation could arise.

In order to make the characters and the story as realistic as possible, he carefully studied the events of the Kosovo War, the conditions endured by refugees – right down to teepee-like tents occupied by five or more people in the refugee camps – and the route taken across Europe to the North of England.

Mr Reynolds worked for Lloyds Bank, taking early retirement in 2002 to set up his own consultancy business. Since then, he has successfully managed human resources and training projects across a wide range of businesses. He says this line of work led to him taking a great interest in psychology and human behaviour through watching interactions and studying responses.

He completed his first novel in just three weeks in early 2010, and after gaining significant reviews from other authors, has written three more novels, including a sequel to Flying With Kites.

More can be found out about the writer on alanreynoldsauthor.com.