A STROUD mother of five has dished up her first children’s book in honour of her twin’s favourite meal - spaghetti bolognese.

Journalist Tracy Spiers (45) has written and illustrated My Twin Sisters Spag & Bol to celebrate the unique bond between her youngest two daughters whilst highlighting issues of family dynamics and pecking order status.

And to celebrate the completion of the book, spaghetti bolognese will be on the menu at a special book launch at The Canteen in Nailsworth on Wednesday, May 27th (4-6pm) courtesy of owner Caroline Saturley, who is herself an identical twin.

Tracy who lives with husband Rog and their five daughters - Naomi (15), Emily (13, Megan (11) and eight year old twins Rosie and Kezia - has also just completed a full-time BA (Hons) degree in Illustration at the University of Gloucestershire.

“I have been working in the media for 28 years, telling other peoples stories and I wanted to be write my own. Passionate about art, I wanted to extend my communication skills by marrying words with my own illustrations. It has been tough being 25 years older than my fellow students and juggling work and family life, but my husband, parents and friends have kept me going when I wanted to give up,” explains Tracy.

The former BBC reporter says her book was inspired by her third daughter Megan who found it tough handling her promotion from baby of the family to middle child. It also didn’t help that her twin sisters developed their own language and appeared a self- contained unit.

“When they were about two I gave Rosie and Kezia spaghetti bolognese for the first time. I watched in fascination as half way through the meal, without a word, they stopped, looked at each other and swapped plates. Rosie only ate the spaghetti, Kezia the bolognese, hence why Spag and Bol stuck,” explains Tracy.

Aimed at five year olds and early readers, My Twin Sisters Spag & Bol, highlights the issues of loneliness and feeling the outsider as well as embracing the importance of fun and imagination.

“I hope the book will encourage any young child as he or she comes to terms with a new sister or brother as well as celebrating the unique and often magical bond that exists between twins,” adds Tracy.

“It would be lovely to see as many twins as possible, young and old, at the book launch. I would love to hear their stories over a bowl of spag and bol!"

My Twin Sisters Spag & Bol book launch is on Wednesday, May 27, 4-6pm at The Canteen, Nailsworth.