Almost a year to the day since her debut, multiple award-winning children's book author Jasbinder Bilan hosted a special writing workshop for kids in Radstock.

Jasbinder's book, Asha And The Spirit Bird, is a magical adventure story and her writing story has been no less incredible.

The teacher, who lives near Bath, and has previously worked at Fosseway School, had little inkling that her book would be so well received by the critics or so universally loved by children.

It was published in February 7 last year to almost instant and universal acclaim, being described by The Guardian newspaper critic as: " Satisfyingly classic in feel, Bilan's story also highlights contemporary issues such as child labour and the perils of factory fires."

Jasbinder said: " I have always loved writing from being a little girl so it was always a dream. You get to that age, if I don't do it now I am not going to do it. But this is the first thing I have written as a long book.

When you write something and it is your first book you don't know who is going to read it, and you just do the best job you can."

Jasbinder wrote the book in around six months, and then edited it for a year before entering it for a prize in 2017, which she won and then landed a publishing deal.

A trained English teacher, Jasbinder now works as a special needs supply teacher, which has in the past brought her to Radstock.

What is Jasbinder's advice for budding authors? Modest and pragmatic she said: " You need to think about something only you can write. Once you have that idea, you have to start and you have to finish it. Then get a few opinions... maybe NOT from your family.. Then work on it again, to make it the best version of itself and then you are good to go."

Her next book will be out in August and will be called Tamarind and the Star of Ishta.

Another magical Himalyan story.

Asha And The Spirit Bird, which won the Costa Children's Book of the Year, is aimed at readers aged 9 years+. It's an adventure story with a twist, set in Northern India. The story follows eleven-year old Asha, who is empowered with spiritual connections to her grandmother, as she journeys through the wild and dangerous Himalayas with her best friend Jeevan.