Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell is set to follow in her childhood idol Madonna's footsteps by launching a career as a children's author. The singer, who named her daughter Bluebell Madonna after her icon, says she first started writing when she fell pregnant.

The 34-year-old, who has been signed up by Macmillan Children's Books, says creating the book's main character, nine-year-old Ugenia Lavender - who like her own daughter shares her name with a plant - was "an adventure".

Halliwell, who has already had two autobiographies published, reveals she aspired to be an author as a youngster and says her literary influences come from authors C.S. Lewis, Enid Blyton and Oscar Wilde.

She says, "Writing for me feels like home. I've always written - at school I loved writing stories and creating mini-worlds where anything can happen.

"As a Spice Girl I wrote lyrics for many of our hits and have continued to do so in my solo career."

The six-book series of stories, illustrated by Rian Hughes, will publish between May and October 2008.

- Geri Halliwell pictures

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)