A MIDDLEWICH Travel Lodge employee has realised his childhood aspiration after becoming a published author with his debut science fiction adventure novel.

Phil Hancox, 43, who works on the night shift at the Holmes Chapel Road Travel Lodge, wrote his first futuristic space adventure story ‘Novabird’ and it is now available on Amazon books.

“I always wanted to write, ever since I was a kid,” Phil said.

“I’ve been passionate about space since the age of around 10, and always had childhood aspirations to be an astronaut.”

Born in Winsford, Phil began his writing in 2014 and wrote the initial chapters for his daughter Seren, who’s now 18.

Set in a system at risk from a dying star that has reached supernova, a freelance pilot is tasked with assisting in the biggest evacuation in human history, with billions of people in need of rescue.

Along the way he encounters horrendous flying conditions, treacherous bureaucracy, hostile forces and a race against time.

Phil, a former Woodford Lodge High School pupil, added: “Novabird is a work of fiction in the sci-fi genre, which I believe would especially appeal to fans of the Red Dwarf series and the cult Firefly/Serenity programmes, due to the book’s gritty nature and humour.

“I wanted to focus on the human side in a story set during a time of chaos.”

“I was lucky to have a qualified astro-physicist, an ex-RAF fast jet pilot and qualified maintenance engineer among a small group of friends and family who read through the rough manuscript and I think that helped to give the plot a gritty realistic feel.

“It is my first effort at writing, and with a follow up novel in the pipeline, hopefully not my last.”