FORMER WWN reporter Ruth Kelly has launched her debut novel.

The romantic comedy, ‘The Little Vineyard in Provence’, was inspired by her summer spent on a 13th Century vineyard – Chateau Peyrassol – near the glamorous Cote d’Azure.

The book tells the story of Ava Chiltern after her world falls apart.

The only ray of sunshine is that she unexpectedly inherits a small vineyard in the south of France from her estranged grandfather.

But she knows nothing about wine, is terrified of venturing out into the world alone and is unsure whether she really wants to ‘start over’.

‘The Little Vineyard in Provence’ is more than a summer read, it’s packed full of mystery, secrets, family feuds and new beginnings as Ava takes her first tentative steps towards happiness and independence amid the wines and vines of Chateau Stair-Clair.

This is not Ruth’s first book – she has had a successful career as a ghost-writer penning novels for celebrities such as underwear tycoon Michelle Mone, as well as ordinary people with

extraordinary stories. She has had a string of Sunday Times top ten bestsellers.

Her current ghosted book, The Prison Doctor, has been in the top ten for five weeks now. It tells the story of a Dr Amanda Brown, who left her upmarket GP practice to work in some of Britain’s most notorious prisons.

Ruth, 38, was granted exclusive access by the Ministry of Justice to sit in on Dr Brown’s consultations at maximum security prison HMP Bronzefield, where serial killer Jonna Dennehy was jailed until recently.

Ruth said: “I wrote the books one after the other and I couldn’t have experienced two more opposing worlds. One minute I was chatting to women who had been locked up for diamond smuggling or arms dealing, the next, I was walking between the vines laden with juicy grapes.”

Ruth’s summer in Provence was made possible thanks to a collaboration with wholesalers Majestic Wine and Chateau Peyrassol.

“In true journalist fashion, I knew that in order to make the descriptions of France authentic and evocative, I needed to ‘research’ my subject matter,” she added.

“So I contacted Majestic Wine to see if it could arrange a stay for me on a vineyard – in exchange for a mention in my book. I was very specific about what I was after – ‘The Little Vineyard In Provence’ is all about family and community, so I wanted to experience a family-run vineyard, not a huge mass production operation. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ‘pairing’ with Chateau Peyrassol.”

Ruth went to Wellington School and lived in Taunton for many years before leaving for London. She now lives in Amsterdam. In ‘The Little Vineyard in Provence’ is published by the Orion Publishing Group and is out now in paperback, e-book and audiobook.

Ruth will be speaking about her journey from ghost-writer to rom-com novelist at the Taunton Literary Festival with Sunday Times bestselling author Veronica Henry.

They will be at Brendon Books on Wednesday, November 27.