BRIDPORT author Kate Scott has written more than 25 books but the thrill of a new book is still as exciting as it's always been.

She's written all her life - anything and everything ranging from poetry, to plays, TV series, non-fiction and children's stories.

It is this last that the mother-of-two loves the best and next Saturday (11 February) she'll be at Waterstones from 11am to 12.30pm for the launch of her latest novel, Giant, aimed at the nine to 12 age group.

Kate said: "Giant is a big-hearted, frank and funny story about being short, being tall and being yourself.

"It’s hard to measure up in a family with high expectations. But it’s even harder when those people sometimes use you as an arm rest. And call you ‘Peanut’."

Giant is Kate’s latest book after her successful children’s series, Spies in Disguise. The first in the Spies series, Boy in Tights, won a Lancashire Fantastic Book Award.

She added: "I am not above bribery - everyone who buys a copy of the book at the launch will receive a free packet of Haribo!"

Kate and her husband Neil, fell in love with Bridport 11 years ago and Kate can't think of a better place to live and work - and she should know having lived in Hong Kong, Paris, Scotland, and two tiny villages in France.

She said: "I have written since I was a child about the time I fell in love with reading and it's been my passion ever since."

Despite the variety of her writing - something that has helped her sustain her long career - it's children's stories that are her first love.

She said: "Children's writers get the best deal because we can tell any story we like and get the best audiences because they are the most appreciative and they will let you know if they don't like it. The are never polite.

"If a child finishes your book it is because they wanted to finish it."

Her own 10 and 13 year children used to 'test read' her work but she's decided that was akin to child abuse making them read endless drafts and now they only read the final version.

Not that she doesn't respect them as critics

"As a writer you have take on board quite early you are not going to make everybody happy, even your own family members so you have to write what feels right to you.

"There's a great quote about being a writer and expecting not to get rejected and being a boxer and expecting not to get punched."

Her own parents took her career choice in the best way possible, she says.

Her mother was encouraging but her father not so much.

"In a way that combination worked quite well for me. You need somebody to believe in you but you equally need somebody to prove wrong.

"They knew I was determined and wasn't going to stop until I'd got there.

"It is very hard these days to find a career that is 100 per cent stable, given we are living in an era where technology is erasing a lot of careers.

"So I think you may as well do what you love because you are much more likely to succeed if and be determined and stick with it and get better at it.

"I never wake up and have a sinking feeling about the work I have to do, though I may have a slightly overwhelmed feeling because I have lots of things to do."