A brave Greenock author is still publishing books despite suffering a brain haemorrhage

Cathy MacPhail and her son David's co-written tale called White Feather marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

The book, their first joint project was completed the morning before she took ill.

Cathy, 72, was hit by a 'thunderclap' headache in February and rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with a subarachnoid haemorrhage, a rare type of stroke which is caused by bleeding on the brain.

The award-winning author was later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle where she underwent specialist brain surgery.

David, 45, who is also a published children's author, said: "White Feather is particularly close to me as the morning after we completed our final edits my mother suffered her brain haemorrhage.

"She has remained in hospital ever since.

"She is now in the rehabilitation unit at Inverclyde Royal, although there hasn't been much improvement."

Speaking to the Telegraph back in June David had told hos his mum was 'lucky to be alive at all'.

Cathy is the award-winning author of such books as Tribes, The Evil Within and Between the Lies and she has worked closely with schools in Inverclyde and further afield.

David said he cherished the opportunity to work with his mum.

He said: "Mum and I always talked about writing and publishing a book together, and I’m so pleased we got the chance.

"Co-writing a book was an unusual experience for us both but we found that the results speak for themselves.

"I think we’ve produced something unique, not quite Catherine Macphail, not quite David MacPhail, but MacPhail and MacPhail."

The latest publication is set in the aftermath of World War One.

David said: "My mother and I wrote it to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the armistice.

"It’s a sad tale about loss and grief, involving a boy’s hunt for the truth about his brother’s death in Flanders."

David, a former Notre Dame pupil, has also been recognised or his work and was shortlisted for the Laugh-Out-Loud award with Thorfinn the Nicest Viking and the Awful Invasion.

He and his sisters Sarah and Katie and wider family and friends have been rallying around to support his mum, who is a doting grandmother to her six grandchildren.

David is still hopeful that his mum will improve enough so she can leave hospital.

He said: "We’re hoping to rehabilitate her to such an extent that she can return to the home she so loves on the Esplanade."

White Feather is published by Barrington Stoke and will go on sale on October 15.