AN AUTHOR who hit rock bottom on Brighton beach but turned his life around in Azerbaijan has put his unlikely migration story into a book.

Paul Parry, also known as Pazza, wrote 'Pazzabaijan - From Brighton to Baku', about his personal journey over the last ten years.

He has hidden copies in and around Brighton beach for passersby to pick it up - in the hope they might help it make its own journey to Asia, and retrace the steps he takes in the book.

He will donate £50 to refugee charity UNHCR for each copy that makes the full journey.

The 43-year-old, who now lives in Hertfordshire, was made redundant from his job as a TV controller.

He said: "Ten years ago I was on Brighton beach on a stag do and facing redundancy. I was 33, full of fear and I was very stressed to be honest.

"I ended up at the European games in Baku working as a sub editor, which is something I really enjoyed doing.

“I have written before I wrote a novel over the course of a few years and I came close to publishing it but for various reasons that didn’t happen.

"I have never tried something like this before because a lot of what is in the book talks about my self-doubt and for years it got the better of me. Now that I am more confident, I feel like I can do something like this.

“I’m placing books in and around the town. Waterstones have been helpful, they are taking five. HMV are also taking one.”

“I have been on my own journey over the last ten years and I knew I needed to do something for a better life. When I see refugees on TV, all they want is a better life. They are putting themselves through danger everyday and so I wanted to do my bit for them.

“The idea is for people who are travelling to take one of these books a little further with them, in the hope that they will eventually reach Azerbaijan.

"Take a copy to the station, to London, to a friend who's travelling, anywhere that will take it closer to Baku."

For any copies of the book bought from Amazon, Mr Parry will donate all his royalties from the first 50 sales to the charity.

Visit pazzabaijan.com to register your interest and donate at justgiving.com/pazzabaijan.

Follow the progress of the books on @Paul__Parry.