A MOTHER who gave up her job nine years ago to become an author has won a national competition judged by book groups with a novel about abandoned children.

Victoria Delderfield, from Ryedale, beat off competition from MA Creative Writing students from across the UK in a contest run by Hookline books with her debut novel, The Secret Mother.

Her prize was a publishing contract with Hookline Books and The Secret Mother is available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released on October 1.

The novel, set in post-Mao China and the North of England, tells the story of a young woman, her lost daughters and their adoptive mother.

The 36-year-old, who left her job as marketing manager for Henshaws Society for Blind People in 2006 to pursue her writing career, said: "I became fascinated about the issue after speaking with several families who had adopted Chinese babies.

“As a mum myself, I wanted to understand the circumstances that might lead to a mother abandoning her children. I’m delighted to have won the competition and finished the book, especially when writing and looking after small children full time has been a real challenge.

"I have had to work late into the night to get the novel ready for publication, but I am very proud of my achievement and so is my family.”