AN artist and illustrator will be holding a special book signing at Waterstones in Redditch.

Marnie Maurri, who lives in Bromsgrove with her husband, two children and four cats, has collaborated with Leicester-based writers Suzanne Smith and Lindsay Taylor to create the visually-spectacular book Doodle Girl and the Monkey Mystery.

The trio signed a four-book deal with international publishers Simon & Schuster and released the first book - aimed at pre-school children - earlier this month.

The tale tells of Doodle Girl - a character living in a sketch-book with her animal friends - and her magical pencil which she uses to turn random doodles into enchanted modes of transport to take her and her friends on adventures.

Mrs Maurri said: "I have always dreamed of illustrating my own book since I was very young."

On the book she added: “It is very much about using your imagination and locking onto creativity, and to reinforce this, at the end of the story there is a giant pull out doodle poster which features all the characters and events from the story so that the readers can relive it again and again.”

Since turning her passion into a career, Mrs Maurri has achieved success with her business Marnie Makes, where she sells her own illustrations, books and personalised doodle posters.

The book signing, which will also include a reading and events for youngsters, is on Saturday, May 28 from 2 to 4pm.