AN EMERGING author who grew up in Warrington is taking success in her stride.

Kate Ormand's first novel Dark Days has just been published and her New York publishing house plans to issue four more of her books this year.

The 25-year-old says she was first inspired to start writing during her commute from Appleton to St Helens College, where she studied between 2009 and 2012.

She said: "Writing had never really been my ambition but I came to it while I was at college. While travelling into town, I discovered a love for reading young adult fiction and decided I wanted to start writing."

Kate, who writes for young adults and children, said she was inspired by popular novels like The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins and the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth.

She enjoys the themes in these genres and her own novels for young adults, Dark Days and The Wanderers, which is due for release in September, have a similar subject matter of the paranormal, dystopian futures, action and romance.

Dark Days sees 16-year-old heroine Sia join a group of rebels and embark on a journey to destroy a new world order and its machines and to put an end to the slaughter of innocent people.

Kate, who lives with her partner Andy, parents and two brothers, said: "I also like writing stories for children and I worked with an illustrator on my three books. It's nice working with someone else, sharing the ideas and excitement."

The former Bridgewater High School and Priestley College student, who writes her children's picture books under the name Kate Louise, signed with a literary agency a few months after graduating.

This led to the deal with New York publishing companies Skyhorse and Sky Pony Press.

Kate said: "It's really exciting because I read so much. It's lovely to see my own books on the shelves among the rest of them."

Studying to be a teaching assistant, Kate said she is considering training as a teacher, which she hopes to do alongside her writing.

She added: "I don't really enjoy the process of writing the first draft but, once I have something to work with, I enjoy going back and editing."

- Dark Days by Kate Ormand is available at Waterstones and online retailers.

- For more information on Kate and her forthcoming novels and picture booksvisit kateormand.wordpress.com or katelouiseauthor.wordpress.com

PAULA MORRIS