A WEYMOUTH woman decided to chase her dream to become a published poet after losing her job due to illness.

Fiona Murphy, 44, from Wyke Regis, turned her life around after she was diagnosed with ME in 2008 when she pursued her passion for writing.

She will now launch her first published works – a collection of children’s poems named ‘Down the Plughole’ – at Weymouth Library this Saturday at 11am.

Mrs Murphy said she wanted people to know that no matter what happens dreams can be achieved.

She added: “I am now disabled and use a stick to walk.

“I got the diagnosis for ME at Wareham clinic and had lumbar spinal decompression in January, 2009.

“My life was turned upside down.

“That means they drilled my spine and back open in two places to make the space bigger to stop it pinching my spinal chord and nerves.

“To start with I was really depressed about it but I soon realised it was the perfect time to do what I really wanted to do.

“I am a qualified nursery nurse, I worked for Condor and in a travel agent but writing is my real passion.”

After discovering some poems that she had written for her children when they were young, Mrs Murphy decided to advertise for an illustrator on Facebook.

She said: “Michelle Last got in touch and I really liked her illustrations, I started looking for publishers and it went from there really.

“My first book is now published by Bristol poetry publisher Poetry Space.

“It all started when I could never get my children out of the bath, so I made up a story about a dragon that lived under there. “ A second book launch will take place at Imagine Bookshop in Weymouth on May 26 between 1pm to 4pm.

Mrs Murphy said: “It is all really exciting I’m going on BBC Radio Leicester and really excited to launch my book from two special places in Weymouth.

“Weymouth library is where my writing really began and Imagine Bookshop is an independent store so it is really great to give it some publicity.”

For more information visit fiona-murphy.co.uk