BOLTON-born writer Andy Walsh has just published his first novel -- thanks to the Internet. Andy, who now lives in Cockermouth, Cumbria, with his wife and three children, has had the book, St Brodag's Isle, taken up by US company Indyprint.

The transaction took place over the Internet and books are printed as they are ordered which means publishers do not have to get involved in long print runs.

Copies of the novel, which tells the tale of an accident-prone governor of a North Sea island, are already on sale in the US and will soon be available in UK shops.

In the meantime, anyone interested can order a copy from Andy's own website at www.stbrodag.com