A Great Yarmouth-born author is riding a wave of success after winning a publishing contract in a national competition - and is coming back to her home town to meet local fans.

Sarah Bates was over the moon after winning the deal in the Bestseller competition by securing more than 270 pre-orders of her children's book Roddy the Magic Cat, which has now gone into print.

Based on her travels around the globe, the illustrated tale follows four-legged friend Roddy on an adventure through Nepal and has captured the imagination of scores of young fans.

Sarah, 40, who was born in Great Yarmouth and grew up in Hemsby, has held reading sessions at Winterton Primary and Hemsby First School and is coming to Yarmouth next week to sign copies of her bestselling book, talk about her travels and meet young readers - as well as old friends.

She said: 'What is really nice, and something that is really unexpected when you do something this like this, is that it's going to bring people together.

'People who I haven't seen since I was 16 who knew me from school have all bought my book and are coming to the signing.

'I think it will be really, really nice.'

The former Flegg High School pupil said her success in the Bestseller competition was still sinking in but she was now eagerly working on the next title in the Roddy series.

The second instalment will see the furry adventurer travel to Egypt and learn about its landmarks, traditions and cultures. And Sarah will again be drawing on personal experience as she lived in the north African country from the age of three - five.

'I have very, very strong memories from there. I was taken inside the pyramids and shown secretive stuff, we were there before tourism hit that particular area,' she added. 'I distinctly remember the markets, walking through them and the smells so want to try and bring that memory back.'

Sarah hopes to inspire the next generation of travellers through her colourful tales and has already sparked wanderlust in many of her young readers.

'After the Winterton reading some of the children came up to me and said 'I will travel and I really love what you had to say'. If it encourages children to think about going somewhere else and seeing other cultures then I have done my job,' she added.

? Sarah's signing session is being held at Sunbeams Play, Enterprise Court, Gapton Hall Road from 1.30pm - 3.30pm on Saturday, October 11. Copies of her book will be available to buy on the day for £6.99.