A Sussex author is hoping her book about lust on the tennis lawns will tap into the public's desire for steamy fiction.

Anna Cheska used the sedate setting of Worthing's tennis courts as inspiration for her book.

In her novel, called Love-40, Anna - real name Jan Henley - tells the tale of two friends who, having hit 40, are coming to terms with their unsuccessful love lives by playing doubles on and off the court.

Anna, 46, thinks tennis clubs are ideal hang-outs for single people and, although in a relationship herself, saw the pulling possibilities and knew they would make a perfect setting for her book.

She said: "I thought the clubs would be a great place for romance because I imagined you could get to meet members of the opposite sex there, play mixed doubles and relax in the club house afterwards.

"There are the fun and fitness aspects and the romance. Some of the characters find romance with other players.

"I think the clubs are a place where relationships can flourish and I thought if you keep your eyes open it could happen.

"I've seen relationships develop on tennis courts."

The story centres on the relationships of Suzi, who has a part-time arrangement with a would-be musician, and Estelle, whose love life is stuck in a rut.

Anna spent months researching her book but it wasn't all hard work. She enrolled for an evening tennis course at Davison School, Worthing.

She said: "I was coached by a chap called Graham. I went along for a few weeks and listened to him talking - for the book and because I needed to improve my game.

"I got a few expressions from him, which I've used in my novel, such as chip and charge, which I thought sounded like something you'd get at McDonald's.

"I had a vision while I was writing of a wonderful tennis club on the Downs where I could sip gin and tonics on the terrace. I got a lot of inspiration from the Worthing clubs.

"I liked the idea of the blue courts at West Worthing Tennis Club and thought it would be good to have coloured courts in my book.

"It encourages young people to go along and we need that in this country."

For Anna, who lives in Thorn Road, life didn't begin at 40 but just before.

The mother-of-three said: "I think we all find different directions to go in at that age.

"My life changed a bit before I was 40 but I believe as your children grow up, a lot of women start looking outwards again.

"I did an Open University course, started teaching and began a manuscript appraisal service. Women change and we don't think we're finished at 50 any more."

Another change which hit Anna in her 40s was her name.

She had been working as a novelist under her real name for years when she decided she wanted to change her style and pen more light-hearted reads.

So she changed publishers and chose her more exotic-sounding pseudonym.

She said: "Anna Cheska is actually taken from my 11-year-old daughter's name, Anna Francesca. When she was a toddler she used to wander round saying she was called Anna Cheska because she couldn't pronounce it. I thought it sounded romantic.

"My daughter is always writing poetry and short stories and I wouldn't be surprised if she followed in footsteps similar to mine.

"At the moment she is writing under the name Amber Black because I'm using her real name."

Anna is now teaching a creative writing course at the place where she caught the literary bug, Northbrook College in Worthing.

Love-40, published by Piatkus Books, is available in paperback from all good bookshops. To find out about her courses, call Northbrook College on 01903 606060.