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Melanie Hewitt has had a lifelong love affair with the Durrell family.

Now popularised by a well loved TV show, the lives of the family members are no strangers to the spotlight.

But Melanie has a special connection to the island and its former residents which prompted her to delve into years of research.

Melanie, 59, from Branton, said: “My dad gave me a copy of ‘My Family and Other Animals’ when I was just 13 years old.

“I remember it well.

“It was a rainy afternoon here in Doncaster

“The book transported me to the magical land of Corfu.”

From that point on Melanie has had an insatiable appetite for all things Durrell.

But it wasn’t until two years ago that Melanie put pen to paper and started writing her new novel ‘Looking for the Durrells.”

She was dining at one of her favourite restaurants on Corfu when she started thinking ‘what if the Durrells were still here today?’

“A character named Penny began to fill my mind,” Melanie said.

“A woman who has an adventure on Corfu on a sort of pilgrimage.

“She has just lost her father and broken off an engagement and sets off to find what happened to the Durrell family in the wake of her life events.”

The book follows Penny on her journey of self discovery as she uncovers facts and secrets about the beloved family.

Melanie is proud to become an author from Doncaster.

She said: “Doncaster has always had a rich and beautiful thread at the heart of it.

“We have so many talented artists and to be a small nugget of that makes me really proud.

“I’m a huge advocate for Doncaster and it means an awful lot.”

This is Melanie’s first book but she has been a writer all her life.

With a long career in journalism then teaching.

She hopes her novel can help people escape after a rough 18 months.

“There is humour and of course a beautiful island setting,” she said.

“I felt like I was truly there in the 32 degree weather when I was really writing it in the back room of my home.”

Doncaster author publishes a novel that will transport you to the beautiful island of Corfu despite current Covid-19 restrictions