A Whitton journalist is celebrating the publication of his debut novel about the adventures of a travelling circus on the US west coast in the 1950s.

Nathan Woolford, 42, said that the launch of his book named ‘Trail Dust’ represents the fulfilment of a lifelong dream of his.

Nathan worked at Richmond and Twickenham Times and its sister titles between 2008 and 2014.

He is now a sub-editor at the Daily Express.

Nathan said that the creation of Trail Dust was a long-time personal project and has been a keen creative writer since his childhood.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

He said: “To me, writing is an addiction. I was always writing stories and thinking up plots when I was younger.

“I always wanted to write a novel. I had several stabs at it when I was a student, but finally went for it all out when I was a little older.

“With Trail Dust, I thought of the characters several years ago. It may sound weird, but the characters are precious to me and I truly love them.”

The story follows circus owner Kal Klondike and his troupe of staff and performers.

Nathan said it is a season full of drama, disaster and triumph and describes it as a "half adventure, half soap opera".

He said: “There are a lot of theories out there about how to write a novel. For me, I think one of the most important aspects is to see it through and to make it to the end.

“There are loads of guys I have met who have started a novel, but it remains unfinished for whatever reason.

“I think to actually get through it, to get the whole thing down, is a massive achievement in itself, regardless of what anyone thinks of it.

“People have to like your work but there has to be a finished product for them to like.”

Nathan was born in Swindon and has been involved in the media world since his schooldays.

He gained a BA Honours degree in Journalism from University College Falmouth in 2001.

- Trail Dust, published by Austin Macauley, is available now at Amazon, and to order from bookstores nationwide.