An author who was born and raised in Ruislip says her “imagination ran riot” during walks in the area, inspiring her new book.

Elaine Ramsay was born in Ruislip in 1943 and lived in the area, on and off, for 42 years. It was while attending Lady Bankes Primary School and Newnham School that she was encouraged to write and, along with other aspiring young authors, read her stories to the class on Friday afternoons.

As an adult, Elaine walked her two cocker spaniels in Park Wood and Mad Bess Wood.

Speaking to Northwood & Ruislip News, she explained: “St Vincent’s Hospital nearby got me thinking about what could happen if hospital waste was illegally dumped in the woods. The idea turned into a novel which I self-published, entitled The Pit.

“A year ago, I took the opportunity to rewrite, update and retitle The Pit as The Secret of Whylder Wood, published by The Book Guild.”

The Secret of Whylder Wood follows well-loved hedgehog Cory, who discovers a poisoned stream in the wood. Rallying a group of reluctant creatures to help him, he sets off on a mission to confront this growing menace.

Elaine said that she is inspired by authors such as Richard Adams, William Horwood, Kenneth Grahame and George Orwell, who have used anthropomorphic animals to convey both the beauty and increasing vulnerability of the UK’s woodland habitats.

When asked what’s next, the author teased that she has deliberately left the ending of the novel open to the possibility of a sequel.

To find out more about Elaine and her work, please visit www.elaineramsayauthor.co.uk