EXMOOR author and harpist Hazel Prior was otterly inspired to write her latest novel after a walk along the Washford river.

Best-selling author Hazel was trying to decide on a plot while walking beside the river when an otter popped its head out of the water and gave her the idea.

It was the beginning of Life And Otter Miracles, a story set on Exmoor which revolves around a mystery at an otter sanctuary.

The novel contains elements of whodunnit and romance and is a celebration of the local countryside and its inhabitants, both human and animal.

Hazel has also written a number one bestseller in Away With The Penguins, which was a BBC Radio 2 and a Richard and Judy book club pick.

She said: “My writing always has strong wildlife themes.

“After writing a sequel to Away With The Penguins I was struggling to pick another creature that would fit as well into my quirky style of fiction.

“As soon as I saw the otter I knew that was it.

“I was writing about the difficult topic of chronic pain, and I needed an uplifting element, and the otters have absolutely brought that to my story.”

To research her book Hazel visited Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary and Buckfast Butterfly Farm, a family-run centre in South Devon which rehabilitates orphaned, abandoned, or injured otters for release back into the wild, and is also an educational tourist attraction.

Hazel adopted one of the centre’s resident otters and discovered as much as she could about the animals’ lifestyle and the ups and downs of the daily running of the place.

She said: “I was struck by the sheer joy of the otters.

“Their playfulness has to be seen to be believed.”

Life And Otter Miracles was published in September and Hazel has gifted some copies to the sanctuary’s staff and otters to thank them for their help.

The otters were not shy about showing their enthusiasm for the book, as can be seen in the photographs.

Life And Otter Miracles can be purchased at the sanctuary, from bookshops, Sainsbury’s, and Amazon.