A HELENSBURGH author has started a new chapter as a full-time writer as he celebrates the release of his latest novel.

Crime author Daniel Sellers’ book Murder on the Clyde was released on Thursday, April 18.

It's the third in his DI Lola Harris series.

The latest title sees Lola delve into the mystery of the 'Clyde Pusher' – a serial murderer killing young men at the river in Glasgow.

Inspired by an urban legend, Daniel’s idea was sparked by a Glasgow writers’ group who call themselves the Covid Divorce Club.

He said: “I get invited to go and talk to book groups sometimes, and one of them was at the city centre in Glasgow.

“It was just when I was about to start writing this book. I didn’t really have a plot, but I knew I wanted it set by the river.

“One of the women at the book club said to me ‘do you know about the Manchester canal pusher?’

“There’s an urban legend that young men have been attacked and pushed into the canals in Manchester.

“I owe it to the real life Covid Divorce Club for giving me that hint.”

Paying tribute to the group, Daniel referenced them in his latest novel as his special way of thanking them for their help and kickstarting his writing process.

While the process of writing the book was relatively long, he found it to be very enjoyable and rewarding.

Daniel continued: “I loved writing every single page of it – it was such fun.

“It took me longer to write than most other books - about six or seven months which is quite a long time for me but it’s quite a complex plot and there’s a lot of characters.”

With reviews being overwhelmingly good, and readers scratching their heads at who the killer could be, Daniel has been delighted with the continuing positive reception for his series.

He added: “The book has done really well. It’s got a good rating on Amazon and on Good Reads as well.

“Only one person I know managed to guess the murderer, and I couldn’t believe it when he told me, because nobody else was able to guess.”

Daniel turned to writing full-time in the autumn and has been adjusting to his new lifestyle since then.

"Since October this is all that I’ve been doing," he said.

“In the last few months it’s been a big adjustment. I found it very very hard at first being on my own and typing all day.”

To give himself a change of scenery and a break from his writing work, Daniel has taken up new role as a mentor to budding local writers.

Daniel has also just signed a three-book deal with Joffe Books ensuring there will be more to come in the Lola series.

Emma Grundy Haigh, editorial director at Joffe Books, said: “Dark and twisty, Murder on the Clyde showcases Daniel's talent for emotionally resonant crime thrillers and his ability to draw characters at their most vulnerable, whose stories stay with you long after you turn the final page.

“With its intricate plotting and Daniel's characteristic page-turning paciness, this might just be his best novel yet."

He has just finished writing the fourth book, ‘Murder on Skye’, which will be out later this year.

Daniel is also working on a golden age detective series set in the 1920s and has written a book set in West Yorkshire, where he grew up, in the 1990s.