An author who hates spiders has suffered for her art by featuring them in her prize-winning first book.

Sharon Tregenza has just gained the prestigious Kelpies Prize 2008 for her children's novel, Tarantula Tide, The adventure story is set in the Shetland Isles and grew out of an article that Sharon had read about the smuggling of exotic animals into this remote part of Britain.

Now living in Red Roses, Sharon has had almost 400 stories, poems and articles published worldwide in the past 15 years and recently gained a MA in creative writing, but Tarantula Tide was the first time she had turned her talents to writing a book.

"I was half way through when I found details of the Kelpies Prize, which is for children's books set in Scotland," she explained. "I realised it would fit the bill, but there was only a month to go before the closing date. So for three weeks, I worked every day until 3am, and then did 30 hours non-stop to get it posted off in time. Thank goodness I did!"

Hundreds of authors entered their work into the contest, so Sharon was delighted when Tarantula Tide was one of just three novels shortlisted, and thrilled to find, at the award ceremony, she was the winner of the £2,000 prize. together with a £600 advance fee for her book.

Her publishers, Floris Books of Edinburgh, are now thinking of taking Sharon to the zoo so she can pose with some of the creatures featured in the novel.

"I am terrified of spiders, so that really will be suffering for my art!" she laughed.

Sharon is now working on her second novel, which features the same children - Jack and Izzie - whose adventures are chronicled in Tarantula Tide. The book is on sale for £5.99 on Amazon and in bookshops, including Waterstones in Carmarthen.