Poignant pledge opens a fresh chapter for writer

INSPIRED by her late husband Jim to write a quirky western he would enjoy reading, Hilton-based writer Elizabeth Lyle is now set to launch her second novel.

Mrs Lyle, who lives with MS and epilepsy and jokes that her theme song is Elton John’s I’m Still Standing, hopes to encourage others to follow their dreams.

Speaking ahead of the launch of The Journey With Two Eagles at Tain Library tomorrow (Thursday, November 1), she said: "Jim made me promise to write this second book 10 days before he died on September 29, 2015. I launched The Mindwalker at his insistence, on October 17 of the same year but I self-published so he could see it before he left. This will maybe give hope or a kick up the proverbial to someone else. I got started writing because Jim threw a writing course into my lap when I was going through a rough time with an MS relapse. He said: ‘You’ve got an English degree – use it’."

The Journey With Two Eagles starts in January 1862 and takes in the American Civil War — again following a suggestion made by her late husband.

The official book launch will be at 12.30pm on November 1 and will again take place at Tain Library, where she attended a creative writing group led by fellow author, Clio Gray. All are welcome and teas and coffees will be available.

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