Spice Girl Geri books a new career

Pop star Geri Halliwell has announced a new career - as a children's author.

The former Spice Girl, 34, says she began putting pen to paper when she became pregnant with her daughter Bluebell Madonna, now 11 months old.

She says that creating the book's heroine, nine-year-old Ugenia Lavender - who like Bluebell takes part of her name from a plant - was "like a rebirth".

Halliwell cites her literary influences as greats like CS Lewis, Enid Blyton and Oscar Wilde and adds of her books: "There is a positive message in there, but it tastes like chocolate not cabbage."

The UN Goodwill Ambassador, who recently announced she was quitting the pop world, was signed up by Macmillan Children's Books after calling the managing director of the publishing house out of the blue.

The wannabe JK Rowling follows in the footsteps of Madonna, who has also taken up children's writing, although the Queen of Pop had not heard of Enid Blyton.

Halliwell, who has published two autobiographies, also announced a new song to accompany the series. She says: "One of the greatest gifts in life is actually to love what you do. For me, writing Ugenia Lavender is one of them.

"When I write these stories about Ugenia I feel like I'm going on an adventure. I start with an idea and I never know how it's going to end up until I get there.

"I have loved reading since I was a little girl. Books by CS Lewis, Enid Blyton and Oscar Wilde have always been my great escape, without getting my fingers burnt.

"Creating Ugenia Lavender was like a rebirth. I started developing the idea two and half years ago, but it wasn't until I was pregnant that I really got down to writing seriously. Since then something has possessed me, and I can't stop. It's like Ugenia Lavender has a life of her own."