A FOOD writer who has delved into the world of fiction came to Greenock to hold a meet and greet with fans.

Sue Lawrence became well known after winning BBC’s Masterchef in 1991, going on to become a Scottish cookery and food writer.

More recently she has tried her hand at fiction writing.

She paid a visit to Inverclyde Heritage Hub to have a chat with writer and critic Lesley McDowell about her career.

Sue told the Tele: “I started my move into the world of fiction about seven or eight years ago and it was challenging.

“I kind of decided I'd had enough of tight deadlines and wanted a bit more freedom, and writing fiction gave me that.

“Writing fiction was so different to what I was used to and I had to go on courses to learn how to do it.

“I find it easiest to base my story on something that has happened or has shocked me, research it and build my story around it.”

Her debut novel, Fields of Blue Flax, was published in 2015 and is the story of an innocent interest in family history that uncovers long buried, dark family secrets.

Having released her second fiction book, The Night He Left, she completed her third and is now working on her fourth but admits it hasn't always been easy.

She said: “I had two before that were rejected.

"I am very critical of my work and will edit it three or four times myself before I give it to my agent who will usually make changes before it is published.

“Having two novels rejected was tough and I occasionally thought about giving up but it never lasted long.

“I am an optimist and I was still working on my cookbooks at the same time so could take time out of writing fiction and go back to it.”

The audience at the Q&A enjoyed hearing Sue speak about her career and she posed for photos and signed autographs.

Host Lesley told the Tele: “Events like these are nice, they are slightly more relaxed and always fun.

"It is a more intimate setting and myself and the public enjoy it."