AN author has battled dyslexia to publish her first book.

Cat Fowler, writing under the name Catherine Sabatina in tribute to her mum, Maureen, who died from breast cancer, has published Sweet Jasmine, Cakes and Magic.

It is a personal triumph for Cat, 33, from Winton.

She said: “I started writing it about five years ago when a character jumped into my head. I’ve always wanted to write a book, but I’m dyslexic.

“My partner Steve bought me a laptop and once I had that I then had the confidence to write.

“I produced it and published it, I didn’t really know what I was doing, I just learnt as I went along.”

Cat launched her book at the Littledown Centre, with donations going to The Wessex Autistic Society.

Cat is a Zumba teacher and learnt of the society’s work through the Zumba Smash charity event.

She added: “The book launch was a great success. The Wessex Autistic Society is partnered with Zumba Smash and I teach for them, so I asked if they wanted to join the book launch to raise money for the charity.”

The book is about a witch and Cat described it as an “urban fantasy book” in the same vein as Twilight and The Vampire Diaries.

Classing it as “chick-lit”, she said it was pro-female and had moments that were both light and dark, happy and sad.

As well as launching her book at the Littledown Centre last Saturday, she was also selling copies at Sunday’s world record attempt for the largest Zumba class at the BIC.