A FORMER headteacher has been inspired by a family friend to tackle a controversial topic in her debut novel.

Dr Jill Clough’s book Morph tells the fictional story of a Kendal school pupil caught up in the dilemma of identifying her-his own gender.

The novel, explains Mrs Clough, was inspired by the niece of a friend.

“The girl chose to disclose to her aunt on Facebook that she knew she was a boy,” she said “The social medium gave a space for disclosure that was easier to manage than face-to-face with the parents.

“That niece is now a full trans-male, active in the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender) community.”

Mrs Clough, who was head of schools in London and Brighton, says transgenderism was a topic she was interested in for a long time since she had spent most of her life around children.

“Nobody can have your experience,” she said. “Children have so much to teach us and yet society is closing them down. We need to make a society fit for everyone.”

In research for the novel, Mrs Clough interviewed many teenagers about their life over the internet as well as parents whose child was a transgender.

“I wanted to explore the issues that teenagers, like my main character, go through on a daily basis,” she said. “But also observe the moment when a parent realises their child is not the child they thought they knew.”

The book was launched at Slate, in Wainwright’s Yard, Kendal, where Mrs Clough explained a bit more about her debut novel. South Lakes MP Tim Farron also attended the event.

“Morph is a really thought-provoking read and a powerful reminder that on the surface we have no idea the problems that people face in their own lives,” he said. “I would encourage everyone to pick up a copy – you won’t be able to put it down.”

Swallow Books publisher and local author Matthew Connolly says why he was impressed by the novel when he first read it.

“With Morph, not only did Jill have the courage to challenge issues of taboo and prejudice,” he said. “But she did it in a careful, sensitive way for the reader, and with the ease and flow of a natural writer. And as for her evocations of the Lakeland landscape – poetic!”

Morph is available in paperback and as an e-book on Amazon UK. To buy direct from Swallow Books, with an author-signed personal dedication, please email contact@swallowbooks.co.uk