A BLACKBURN grandmother-of-six has released her first novel on Kindle — selling 12,000 copies and receiving rave reviews.

Faded Dreams is a family saga set in 78-year-old Eileen Haworth’s home town during the first half of the 20th century.

The story depicts the turbulent lives of a working class couple with dark secrets in their past which threaten to tear themselves and their children apart.

Mrs Haworth, a retired manager of a family centre, was inspired to pen the tale as a hobby after writing her family history.

She said: “It’s still not sinking in that complete strangers could be interested in reading anything I’ve written.

“I feel like I should be throwing them a thank-you party.”

The story includes key times and places in East Lancashire’s history, including Blackburn Rovers winning the FA Cup in 1928, the bomb that dropped on Ainsworth Street, Blackburn in 1940 and Friday nights spent at the Grand Theatre in Clitheroe.

She said: “I have strong memories of Blackburn during the Second World War, even though I was only a child at the time.

“The characters are fictional, but real life experiences have been elaborated on and woven into the story.”

The novice writer spent 14 years writing and reworking the story.

She said: “I rewrote it more times than I care to remember, trying to improve on it each time.

“When I was happy with it, I thought it might be an idea to get it out there for my family to read, otherwise it would just lie on my computer and be chucked away when they chuck me away!”

Mrs Haworth decided to release it through Kindle after reading a magazine article.

Her daughter Tracey designed the cover and grandson Tim edited the text. She said: “I didn’t expect anyone else to read it but then I got some nice reviews.

“This encouraged me and I am now halfway through the sequel.”

Faded Dreams is available for 99p on Kindle at Amazon.