Many people keep diaries and some make for interesting reading when published but a Cumbrian author has just launched the second of her books charting the lives of cats in More Cat Tales From Moon Cottage.

This is only the second book Marilyn Edwards, of Hutton Roof, has written and after the success of her first, which was re-printed five times, she is already working on her third.

More Cat Tales From Moon Cottage is a story about cats Fannie and Titus who, having been brought up at Moon Cottage, suddenly have to deal with the arrival of a tom kitten named Pushkin, causing a struggle for co-existence among the three of them.

Mrs Edwards uses diary entries about the lives of her own cats to form the basis of the book, giving it a realistic feel and enabling the reader to relate with the feline frolics.

"What happens in the book is all completely true. I keep a diary of things that happen on a weekly basis, then I sit down and write it with a bit more style."

Mrs Edwards has worked in publishing since her teens and always wanted to try to write a novel.

And why did she choose to write about cats? "I love all animals," she said: "But when I discovered cats, I found they had a special quality all cat owners know about one thing I love about cats is that you have to earn their love every day."

The book is available at most bookstores, including Waterstones and Ottakars.

More Cat Tales From Moon Cottage, by Marilyn Edwards. Hodder and Stoughton, London. £7.99. ISBN 0-340-86344-7.