They say that everyone has a book inside them.

For Sergeant Ian Lyons of Brawdy’s 14th Signal Regiment, it took a brush with death and the long road to recovery to make the dream of publishing his book a reality.

Ian had set himself the challenge of penning his book, April’s Pond, a couple of years before.

However, it was only last year — after breaking both femurs in a parachuting accident — that he set about publishingon the story.

“I nearly died on the operating table during an eight-and-a half-hour operation,” said 30-year-old Ian. “I spent a month in hospital and months in a wheelchair recovering. It’s a miracle I’m alive and walking, really.”

Ian took the opportunity to self-publish April’s Pond while he was recovering.

The story follows a small hedgehog, Milton, and his struggles to survive and find happiness.

His adventures take him to April’s Pond where he meets a friendly ladybird, April, a house martin and a squirrel.

However, his fate is far from certain; hidden danger lurks in the shadows and not everything at the pond is quite as it seems.

“They say you should write about what you know,” said Ian.

“There is a lot of me in there; a lot of my memories, a lot of my experiences, how I dealt with things.”

Ian, who has a 13-year-old son, wrote the book to inspire young children to conquer their fears and realise their potential, while subtly exploring issues like animal cruelty, trust, friendship, jealousy, forgiveness and love.

He has also designed a hand puppet of Milton the hedgehog, so the story can be acted out as it is read.

Illustrated by Frances Evans, the book is designed to be read aloud to children under the age of eight and for children aged eight to 12 to read for themselves. Ian thinks adults will also enjoy it.

“It’s a book that crosses several boundaries,” he said.

Pick up last Wednesday's Western Telegraph for a chance to win April's Pond goodies.