Divorced man writes comedy novel

A divorced man from Chiswick has spent six months writing a humorous fiction book about a subject he is very familiar with ? the end of a marriage, from a male perspective.

Robin Kermode had just finalised his own divorce when he snapped his achilles tendon, had a life-threatening blood clot and was unable to walk. In the ensuing months he spent his time sitting in his garden and writing his debut novel. Entitled The Flowerpot Man, the book follows the journey of the main character, Will Foster, from Decree Nisi to Decree Absolute, the Richmond and Twickenham Times reports.

Mr Kermode told the paper: "The guy in the book runs a flowerpot company, hence the name - I set out to make everyone laugh out loud on every page, so hopefully that has worked out. Waterstones have just made a large order, it's gone down fantastically well, and we're already in discussion over the television rights."

And commenting on his decision to publish the book himself, Mr Kermode added: "Starting the publishing company was easier than I thought. I've had some great feedback and Jo Goode from Radio London Breakfast Show thinks it should be a bestseller, so it's really exciting."