AS a teacher and foster carer Jackie Horner has transformed countless people’s lives over the years. Now she’s changed her own after becoming an author.

Mrs Horner's journey began in 2001 after she and husband Jonny found out they were unable to have a family of their own, and so decided to become foster parents.

Over the last decade or so she has fostered around 10 children ­— transforming the lives of the some the most vulnerable young people.

As a fosterer, Mrs Horner says he has preferred to take on longer fostering placements and remarked that the child she is fostering now has become "just like my own son".

"It can be challenging," she said, speaking to the Bury Times as the borough marks Foster Care Fortnight. "But the child I foster now is completely different to the one who came through the door.

"You might just give someone a period of stability for a short amount of time, but when they look back hopefully that will have made an impact."

Originally from Glasgow, Mrs Horner studied at university and trained to be a teacher before moving to Greater Manchester.

She took up a post at Westwood Park Primary School in Salford, eventually becoming assistant headteacher, and has lived in Bury since 2004.

After 18-years of teaching Mrs Horner left the profession to become a full time fosterer.

“I think being a teacher definitely helped when it came to fostering," she said.

"When I taught I absolutely loved my children and you get know them inside and out, and I gained a lot of experience from that.

"The kids were absolutely amazing, especially considering some of the difficulties they faced.

"A lot of them came from quite challenging backgrounds, but that did not stop them."

However, after years of helping others on to brighter futures, and with more free time on her hands, Mrs Horner said she "felt like something was missing".

So one morning she decided to buy a laptop and embark on a new career in writing.

Although she had never done anything like it before, she was instantly hooked and began to write morning and night.

Mrs Horner's passion and drive for writing sees her get up at 5am every day, as she finds this is when she is at her most creative.

Her first published book ­— Jailbird ­— was released last year, and tells the story of organised crime, corruption and unconventional romance, centred around a Glasgow prison.

She said: "When I started I didn't know if I could write a book, but I did.

"Jailbird was the third book I wrote and the first one I thought was good enough to put out.

"What really surprised me was how much I enjoy writing and it's surprising because I'm such a private person.

"When you write one book you think that's it but as soon as I finished I had something new."

The novel has been met with praise which, coupled with her prolific writing, has spurred her to pen another book which she hopes to release later this year.

For more information or to buy a copy of Jailbird visit amazon.co.uk/Jailbird-JD-Horner/dp/1686410808.