A former Gazette reporter burst into tears when she saw her debut novel on sale in Waterstones.

It was a “dream come true” for Chloë Mayer, who worked at the paper from 2011 to 2013.

Her novel, The Boy Made of Snow, has been published in the UK, Australia, and Poland so far.

The 37-year-old said: “I was in Piccadilly Circus on Friday and popped into Waterstones. I couldn’t believe it when I saw my novel displayed on a table alongside books by ‘real’ authors. It was so overwhelming I welled up and was struggling not to cry in front of the other customers and staff!”

Chloe, of Wanstead, east London, was working on a first draft whilst at the Gazette.

“But I’d often be knackered, so it was hard to write in the evenings or weekends,” she said.

“It took a few more years, but I finished it eventually.”

She added: “I absolutely loved working in Hackney and all the amazing locals I got to know.”