THE story of blind writer Trish Vickers and her 'disappearing' novel went worldwide after it appeared in the Bridport News in April 2012.

Mrs Vickers had been writing with a ballpoint pen without realising it had run out. People the world over were touched and amazed after reading how police forensics experts recovered her work.

After years of painstaking writing she's finished the book but now it's a race against time to get it published as she's been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Daughter Heidi said: "Mum really wanted to see if she could get it published in time to present it to her mum who is 90 this May. But sadly we don't know if she's even got that long."

Bridport Blind Club volunteer and friend Trevor Chambers, who has written a foreword for the book and proof read it, said Trish was not a vain person but her friends want to see her work recognised.

He said: "We were hoping that once the book was finished some of the publishers who were interested all those years ago would come back but no one's pursued that avenue yet.

"Trish has spent years and years writing the book and it is a pleasure to read but what will sell the book is the story behind it.

"My motive is to help her sell the book and to get people interested because while she's alive it would be great for her to know that her life's work in writing was at last getting some recognition

"She's a comparatively young woman and what's caught us out is her shortened life, We thought we had more time."

Diabetic Trish from Higher Sea Lane Charmouth lost her sight when she was 52 and turned to her imagination for solace.

She started writing her novel Grannifer's Legacy and on her son Simon's weekly visits would revise as she needed to see how the story was going.

She wrote with a ballpoint pen using elastic bands to guide her.

But after a particularly fruitful burst of inspiration saw her pen 26 pages, disaster struck.

When her son arrived he could see nothing on the pages.

They turned top the police for help and forensics experts at Winfrith HQ working in their spare time were able to restore her work.

Trish was delighted and it gave her the impetus to finish her novel.

The tale of Grannifer’s Legacy, is about a character called Jennifer whose life implodes – she loses her job, her boyfriend and worst of all her namesake great grandmother who has always been her guide.

She has to start a new life and the story is about how she does that.

But sadly although the tale is done Trish is too ill to get it published.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer five weeks ago and has been told there isn't anything that can be done.

If anyone can help or has ideas how to get the book in published contact Mr Chambers on 01297 489349

Longtime friend Linda Rand said Trish is in now Bridport Hospital.

Linda said: "We wondered if by contacting the News someone might be able to help fulfil her last wish and get her book published before she dies.

"Trish is currently in Bridport hospital but plans are being made for her to return home once the correct level of carers support can be put in place."

Second

AT the time Trish's story topped the charts of the most popular articles on the Bridport and Lyme Regis News website in the entire year.

After the News broke the story, media outlets, TV shows, radio stations, national and international papers and websites worldwide headed to bridportnews.co.uk to follow-up the story.

It was also the most read story on the Reddit website and was mentioned by bloggers even in Saskatchewan.

Trish, of Charmouth, said at the time: “Good grief. At the time I was in the middle of it I was thinking what was all the fuss about.

“All I wanted to do was thank the police staff who did it in their own time, in their lunch hour or tea breaks.”

“It went absolutely crazy.

“I was interviewed on the radio, on Five Live, on London and Dublin radio.

“It went all over the place.”

The story went on TV, radio and national newspapers in this country and overseas as well as dozens of websites including NBC, the Huffington Post, Canada News and Australian Women’s Weekly.

Trish added: “I suppose with all the carnage and nastiness in the world people wanted to see a happy and pleasant story.”

Trish, 64, who used to run the Bridport gift shop Zoot Allures in South Street took up writing to keep her mind active.