A Ramsbottom man has released his debut novel which is inspired by his experience of backpacking in Australia.

Andrew Braiden published his first book "The Swede" in October last year, which is loosely based on his own experiences while travelling down under back in 2005.

The 38-year-old says the initial response to the story, centred around a peace-loving vegetarian called Anders who ends up working in a slaughterhouse in Queensland, has been very positive.

Following his success, Andrew is now encouraging other aspiring authors to persevere with their plot lines and make it into print.

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He said: “It’s been quite the journey to get to the point where I saw my own work on the page, but it’s been worth the struggle and I would recommend it for anyone with the dream of being a published author.

“Many people talk about writing a book and never get around to it, so to finally have it off my computer and in a physical form is a satisfying feeling.”

The dad-of-two, who works as a teaching assistant, says he didn’t show an interest in novels until his mid-20s when he read JD Salinger’s classic "The Catcher in the Rye".

He practiced his craft writing short stories until his "lightbulb" moment six years ago.

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He said: "I was reminiscing about my backpacking days and the Swedish chap I worked and lived with in Australia.

"I began texting a friend with daft things I could remember, just silly little stories, a few paragraphs here and there, but enough to see a potential story developing.

Bury Times: The front cover of The Swede, by Andrew BraidenThe front cover of The Swede, by Andrew Braiden (Image: Andrew Braiden)

“Days later I was writing a quick draft and it would become an obsession over the next six years.

"I even quit my job at one point to get it finished."

Andrew, who counts Ernest Hemingway and Raymond Carver among his main influences, has embarked on a series of talks at libraries and cafes across Bury to spread the word about "The Swede".

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He added: “I love talking about the book. I also like explaining the process because getting the story finished is one thing, getting it out there is another.

“That’s my current focus, but I’d also like to plan another novel - maybe about a novice writer finding his feet on a journey to publish a book!”

"The Swede" is now available to buy on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats.