A former weekly editor is set to have his first children’s book published in America.

Gerry Sammon, who used to edit newspapers including the Rochdale Observer and Middleton Guardian, has had his noverl Wolf Boy picked up by a US publisher.

The story follows Connor, who goes blind but is given mystical seeing ability, and a couple of other youngsters who are transported by a wolf into a strange world where they must battle for survival.

The book, published under the name GS Sammon, originally came from a series of strange dreams Bolton-based Gerry’s daughters had as small children.

Gerry told the Wigan Post, where he used to work in the 1980s: “Don’t ask me to explain why but when my daughters were very young they both used to have this nightmare of a wolf in the wardrobe.

“That’s where this story starts and it eventually developed into this full-blown fantasy land of talking wolves and monsters. It’s for young readers who like a bit of adventure with some battles thrown in.”

The 62-year-old added: “I think it’s probably the ambition in the background of most journalists to write books. There’s also the old saying that there’s a book in every one of us.

“Writing for children is a different discipline, you have to be a bit more explanatory and can’t always assume things. I enjoyed the experience, even more so now I know it will be out there.

“I’ve got a sequel to my first adult book in the very early stages but there may also be a sequel to the children’s one. There are a few other irons in the fire that I’m thinking of getting to grips with as well.”