A DAUGHTER'S dream to have her mother's book published has finally become a reality.

Nicola Dickinson, of Wotton-under-Edge, has been trying to get a book of her mother's poetry published for the last three years, but without success.

However, with the generosity of a family friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, Mrs Dickinson is now able to see the book in print for the first time.

She said: "I have been trying for three years but I just couldn't get it published.

"But then a friend of mine said I should just do it myself and offered me the money to pay for the printing.

"My friend has been very generous but she knows she will get her money back."

The book, which is called 'A Country Girl's Diary, There is a Reason', chronicles the life of Mrs Dickinson's mother, Joyce Kidman, from a young girl aged three growing up near Wotton to adulthood, when she suffered a terrible accident in Stoke Gifford and realised her gift as a medium.

The book also contains some of the 2,000 poems Mrs Kidman wrote during her life and sayings that used to come to her, such as "In the debris of our despair, our characters are born."

"My mum started writing the book in 1990. She was once told she would write a book but had never got round to it.

"Since mum died five years ago I've been told by people I should finish the book and get it published," said Mrs Dickinson.

Since her mother died on New Year's Eve 2002, Mrs Dickinson has written the final chapters of the book and collated which poetry should be included.

"My mum wrote so much poetry about all sorts of things, famous people, culture, flowers, the local area and most of it fits in nicely with parts of her life," said Mrs Dickinson.

The book is to be printed at Clarendon Press, Alderley, and Mrs Dickinson hopes once the first 100 copies have been sold, and her friend has been paid back, she will be able to have more copies sold to raise money for charity.

Mrs Dickinson said: "I don't want to make any profit from the book - my mum did what she did for free.

"I've had 100 printed and once they've sold and I've paid people back then I can do some more and hopefully any profit can go to the local Round Table.

"I want to give the money back to local charities if I can. It's what mum would have wanted."

A Country Girl's Diary, There is a Reason, will be on sale in shops in Wotton in the New Year.