An 82-year-old grandmother is celebrating after landing a book deal for her debut novel.

Brighton-born teacher and theatre director Myrrha Stanford-Smith said she was "gobsmacked" to be handed the three-book agreement.

Her first work, The Great Lie started appearing on book shelves last week.

The trained actress says she has always had a passion for creative writing.

The deal with publisher Honno, is for a trilogy based around her swashbuckling Elizabethan hero Nick Talbot.

The adventure reignites, in fictional form, the rivalry between William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

Ms Stanford-Smith said: "I was gobsmacked.

"I had to put the phone down and ring them back as I was so taken aback by the whole thing.

"I had to pull myself together before I could even pick up the phone to call back.

"It was out of the blue. I'd been waiting for the manuscript to be sent back really, rejected. It was such a wonderful surprise."

The Great Lie sees 16-year-old Nick, the son of the late first Earl of Rokesby, run away with a troupe of travelling players who take him to London - where he soon comes to Marlowe's attention.