AUTHOR Jim Potts can see his words in print in Dorchester after his book went on sale in a national chain.

His book – The Ionian Islands And Epirus – A Cultural History – is on the shelves at Waterstones in South Street.

Mr Potts, 65, lives in Poundbury with his Corfu-born wife Maria, who is also a published author.

He said: “It is always difficult to get books published and distributed so it is nice to see it in Waterstones.

“I can always see it in Corfu but it’s nice to see it here as well.”

Mr Potts added: “I hope Waterstones will stock my other book as well, and one of my wife’s.”

Mr Potts held senior positions in the British Council before retiring – including director of the British Council in Australia.

Mr Potts was also head of the Central and Eastern European division of the council when based in London.

Mr and Mrs Potts, who have two grown-up children, lived in Prague before the fall of Communism as well as Greece and Corfu, Ethiopia and Sweden.

Mr Potts was attached to embassies in some of the countries while working overseas.

The Ionian Islands And Epirus – A Cultural History traces the inspiration of the area’s landscapes, legends, traditions and history.

Mr Potts has also written a book called Corfu Blues which features a selection of his poetry and prose about Greece and the Balkans.

Mrs Potts, 63, has written a novel called The Cat Of Portovecchio: Corfu tales about life in a traditional fishing village.

Her works also include a novella called the Pimping Of Panorea about the exploitation of an island and its environment for profiteering and oil.

Keen quilter Mrs Potts embarked on a three-month book tour of Australia.

She said: “It has been doing extremely well and selling well.”