'I finally told my boss I couldn't read and write. Now I'm Queen of Crime'

Having become pregnant at just 15, Karen Woods had no choice but to drop out of school.

But when she tragically gave birth to a stillborn baby, she did not return to education – leaving her unable to read or write due to her previously poor attendance.

Karen eventually found work as a cleaner and remained in the job until she was offered a promotion. But the new role meant she would need to write emails as part of the job – with Karen “losing sleep” over the possibility of her illiteracy being uncovered.

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She eventually opened up to her boss and Karen, then 39, was sent on an adult literacy course, passing the test required to graduate after two attempts.

With the qualification under her belt, Karen realised her life-long dream of writing a novel was now a possibility – finishing her first book Broken Youth just three months later.

“When I used to work as a cleaner and got the promotion, I lost loads of sleep thinking they would find out I couldn’t read or write,” Karen, from Miles Platting, said.

“I thought I could blag my way around it, but they sent me on an Adult Literacy Course and as the lessons went on I started to take an interest.

“Once I got the certificate in my hand I realised anything was possible – I could read and write and was the same as everyone else.

“Nothing is set in stone if you believe in yourself. I'm on my 27th novel now and my dream hasn’t stopped there.

“I write real books and real problems and I’ve been called Manchester’s Queen of Crime. I've always wanted to wear a crown.”

Against all odds, Karen’s book was picked up by Manchester based Empire Publications - and she has since written 20