Su Ridley says dyslexics should not let the disability beat them

Severely dyslexic Su Ridley, of Sevenoaks, has published her first novel, which goes on sale on Thursday.

Mrs Ridley, whose thriller Unnatural Justice is set in Gravesend, had to dictate the 90,000 word book.

The mother-of-two said the disability should not stop people striving for their dreams no matter how impossible they seem.

'Seriously daunting

Mrs Ridley, who published the book with the help of her family, said: "It was difficult writing it because even any form of writing or complicated form filling is seriously daunting.

"Even normal people find forms difficult so the rest of us have no chance, so I am proud.

It was like suddenly finding out what it is that has fogged you for all of these years and actually understanding why Sue Ridley

"It's taken a year to get this far and that has been with someone typing for me, my husband editing, my daughter designing the front cover and my son sorting out the sales and postal side."

The author only discovered she was dyslexic when she took her son to a dyslexia centre where he could be tested for the disability.

Mrs Ridley took some of the tests herself and was told she had severe form of the disability.

She said: "It was like suddenly finding out what it is that has fogged you for all of these years and actually understanding why!"

"I would tell anyone with dyslexia who has not benefited from the help that is available for students now to just go for it and achieve their dreams."