GOOD things they say are worth waiting for - and that's certainly true about the new album from Ribble Valley singer/songwriter Stephanie Kirkham, which is released tomorrow.

Tiny Spark is Stephanie's third album but comes some nine years after her second - the critically-acclaimed Sunlight on My Soul.

For Stephanie, Tiny Spark marks a new beginning.

She was signed to a five album deal with the Hut record label which then dramatically folded.

"That was a total shock," said Stephanie. "I'd never been part of a band, the musicians I'd worked with on the first album That Girl, were really nice but when the label folded they just moved on to the next thing and I did feel alone."

Stephanie released Sunlight on My Soul independently as a response to the label closing but admits that she was affected by the whole experience.

"I was down for quite a while," she said, "and I needed time to stop and think about what to do next."

One person who always believed in her was Grammy Award-winning producer Phil Thornalley. the man behind Tiny Spark.

"Phil has always been in my corner and there to encourage me," she said.

With Phil's support, Stephanie rediscovered her confidence and love for music and now actually regards being left in the lurch by a collapsed record label a good thing.

"Because no-one was paying for Tiny Spark, there was no pressure on me," she said. "I didn't have a record company putting deadlines on things, I could basically write songs when I felt like it.

"It was a really nice way to go about things. If I got half an idea for a song, I'd just send it to Phil to hear and he'd suggest things.

"As a result I think that positive energy stayed with us throughout the whole process and I absolutely love the finished result, I wouldn't change a thing."

Tiny Sparks is full of positive, uplifting songs which put a smile on the listener's face. It also includes the song Easy as 1, 2, 3 which was used by car giants Peugeot and energy company EDF for TV adverts in Europe.

"That gave me a huge boost," said Stephanie.

Now living in Cornwall, Stephanie regularly makes the long trip back the the area and can occasionally be found working behind the counter of her mum's flower shop, Secret Garden, in Preston.

She grew up at the family's converted farmhouse on Longridge Fell before moving to Chipping.

"I had an idyllic childhood," she said. "I went to Hurst Green Primary School where there were only five people in my year."

As well as her music, Stephanie is also an accomplished artist and anyone ordering Tiny Spark from her website receives some of her artwork along with the CD.

But music is very much her priority.

"I always have melodies coming into my head," she said, "and I have got a whole lot of songs ready for another album.

"I don't play an instrument so I tend to sing into my phone when I have an idea"

This process has worked well until the New Year when Stephanie lost her voice for a few days.

"I did have a couple of ideas for songs but I couldn't do anything with them. If they were any good they'll come back to me."

Tiny Spark is released tomorrow and is available from www.stephaniekirkham.com. Stephanie will be playing live at the Radio Lancashire studios in Blackburn at 2pm next Friday, January 29