I dropped out of school when I got pregnant at 15… I only learned to read & write aged 39, now I’m a best-selling author

A WOMAN who only learned to read and write aged 39 has now become an author of 30 books, with more than 100,000 copies sold.

Karen Woods dropped out of school at just 15 after getting pregnant.

She worked as a cleaner, and was one day offered a promotion that meant she would have to write emails.

She discovered a love of writing after taking an adult literacy course and has now become a best selling crime author.

Karen, now 54, said learning to read and write changed her life and her books may even be turned into a TV show.

She also uses her experience to help children who are struggling to use creative writing as an outlet.

Karen, from Manchester, said: “I’m on my 30th novel now and have written over a million words.

“I think it’s inspiring to think that it’s giving inspiration to women to do the things they want to do.

“I speak to girls about domestic violence, a common theme in my books, and how it comes across - there are stories they tell me about how their boyfriends check their phones.

“It’s much more out there than we think and I don’t think the girls recognise it.

“I also work on behaviour in schools.

"If kids get thrown out of class I go and speak to them – I say ‘let’s write a story’, and they’ll sit down and write lots of things that are on their mind.

“Rather than writing about Shakespeare I think if they’re writing about where they live and their lives it’s probably a good insight into what’s going on for them.

“I’m talking to TV production companies about converting my books to TV scripts and am now waiting to see if it gets commissioned.”

Karen, who gave birth to a stillborn baby after dropping out of school at 15, said that she could never concentrate in class, and would regularly skip lessons to hang out with friends.

Anyone can write a book – everyone has that story in them

Karen Woods

After learning to read and write aged 39, she realised it was her dream to write a novel, and decided to give it a go.

Karen's 30th book, a crime novel called The Street, is being released this summer.

She said: “I get lots of messages from readers saying they identify as one of my characters, that my books helped them to cope and that they want to write a book but never had courage.

“It’s heart-warming, there was a guy who’d been in prison who said my books helped him with his time in prison and now he’s come out he still reads my books.

“Anyone can write a book – everyone has that story in them and so many people want to tell their story and just don’t know how.

“You just need to pick up a pen and go on your own journey.”

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