A SCIENCE student's daydreaming has brought her literary success.

Shelly Parker, aged 33, was studying A Levels at Warrington Collegiate in preparation for becoming a doctor when a fictional character walked into her brain and refused to go away.

She started writing and three months later had finished her first children's novel.

Since its launch in June, Return to Allapatria has been named book of the month by WH Smith and brought fan mail from both adults and children to Ms Parker.

She said: "One morning when I should have been studying chemistry the character walked into my head. I started writing and three months later had a book. I then took six months to edit it before sending it to a literary agent which offered to publish it."

Return to Allapatria is about a 12-year-old boy who is looking forward to his six-week summer holiday where he plays his computer games. However, after being transported to a bizarre world he reluctantly battles against the forces of evil, even though he would much rather be playing computer games.

Since starting to write the book in 2003, Ms Parker has halted her college studies to concentrate on being a full-time novelist and is currently halfway through a follow-up book. Four are planned.

She said: "I'd always wanted to be an authoress and even though was planning to go into medicine, writing is my first choice career and I'm loving it. I already know the last line of book four, so just need to write them now."