A FORMER Bridgwater Mercury reporter is hoping to hit the best-seller lists this month, when his debut book - The Joy Of Ex - is published.

Edward Keating worked at the Mercury from 2003 until 2004, and will be releasing his first novel through Oktober Books in March.

The story follows the exploits of a man who rather rashly makes a drunken bet with a pal that he can re-seduce six of his ex-girlfriends, exploring the nature of attraction, and questioning whether sparks between lovers eventually fizzle out - or burn forever.

Edward spent three years putting together his debut novel, and battling to overcome literary agents who branded his efforts "chick lit" and told him that "men don't buy books that way".

Determined Edward insisted that men want more choice than horrors, biographies and war tales, and has been vindicated by the publication of The Joy Of Ex.

The 31-year-old, who lives in Weston, said: "It's a real thrill to be published. I have wanted to be a novelist for as long as I can remember.

"When I first sent the manuscript to agents, I got back lots of replies.

"In amongst the standard letters, a few agents took the time to make comments. They said things like: interesting concept', very readable' and your writing has promise'.

"Someone with more experience of the publishing business than I have, had a look at the novel and told me: if this was chick lit', written from a woman's point of view, I would have no problem selling it.

"I had a go at re-writing from a woman's perspective, but it didn't really work. The best advice in writing is to write what you know, which meant The Joy of Ex had to be from a male point of view.

"Now, The Joy of Ex is ready for publication and I am really, really happy with how it turned out. The novel remains true to my original concept and true to the way I wanted to write it."

The Joy Of Ex is priced at £7 and can be pre-ordered by e-mailing submissions@oktoberbooks.co.uk.