MIKE Herd is best known as director of the Sussex Innovation Centre, based at Sussex University in Falmer.

He has been helping entrepreneurs create successful businesses for the last 20 years.

And his experience of working with so many “reluctant entrepreneurs” sharing their highs and lows convinced him to want to tell their stories.

Tomorrow he will be launching his first novel.

Mike said: “My first novel, See My Smile, whilst a work of fiction, brings together two very important aspects from my own life – having an autistic child and the journey of a would-be entrepreneur.

“This is the story of an ordinary man, driven to risk his home and his family’s security to develop a new technology to break-through his son’s autistic isolation.

“Will he survive in the cut-throat world of high-tech business and avoid unscrupulous investors?

“And can he keep his family together while he tries?

The launch takes place at Café Domenica, 5-7 Preston Rd, Brighton between 3pm and pm Wednesday.

The café will be open for teas and coffees and homemade cakes.

Mike said that £2.50 from each book sold at the event will be donated to Team Domenica.

Team Domenica is a social enterprise charity.

Its aim is to help young adults with learning disabilities find and retain meaningful employment, giving them a sense of direction, purpose and belonging.