AN AWARD-winning Plymouth writer has her first book out. Finn Clarke's collection of short stories, Grim Tales of Hope, has been published by an Arts Council-funded website and Legend Press.

Finn, aged 47 and from Efford, has now started a new chapter in her writing career – she has moved to Quebec, Canada, for a year to work full-time on her next book.

Grim Tales of Hope is a collection of six short stories and mini novels.

She said: "Originally based on the structure of certain fairy tales, they have roamed far from this starting point and the core tale is often now unrecognisable.

"Instead the tales explore what could have happened in another time and place, if the characters had taken their fates a little more firmly into their own hands."

The people in her stories include a war profiteer, a London socialite, a backwoods country girl, a Quebec separatist, a princess and a couple of child soldiers.

Their adventures range across the world from Eastern Europe to Africa and take in wolves, love and loathing, chemistry and cross-dressing.

"Each one is forced to choose: remain a victim of the time and place they were born to – or try and turn the grim tale of their life into one of hope," says Finn.

The Quebec connection is through her partner, Andre-Denis Cote who she met there while travelling.

They have a daughter, Senga, 13, who was born in the French-speaking province and was at Hele's School, Plympton.

They are putting her through school in Quebec so she can keep up with the language while Finn works on the second book.

Andre-Denis is back home in Plymouth working for Brittany Ferries.

Finn has done a wide range of jobs from psychologist to helper at an outdoor education centre.

Her last job before the move was with Storybook Families, the Dartmoor Prison-based national charity that helps fathers and mothers in jail keep in touch with their children through bedtime tales.

Now she is on to her new book, Split Dreams 'a mixture of literary and science fiction'.

Finn has had acclaim for her stories from judges in a number of high-profile national and international writing competitions, including one linked to the prestigious Ways With Words literary festival at Dartington in the South Hams.

She was awarded an Arts Council grant to write a novel. The result was Tips for Translators, which she is reworking after interest from an agent.

Finn said: "I have written all my life. The stories in Grim Tales of Hope were a result of reading bedtime fairytales to my daughter.

"She insisted on the anodyne Walt Disney versions and I found myself getting very angry at how stereotypical and bland they were, wanting to write something a lot more real in response.

"I am currently writing in a little cottage in the Quebec countryside, north of Quebec City, in the curve of a river, now frozen, beneath snow-covered pine trees and mountains. It's cold, but beautiful, and very conducive to writing!"

Grim Tales of Hopes is available from YouWriteOn (youwriteon@legendpress.co.uk) and Amazon.co.uk. for £7.36