The revelation that Stephen Gately was writing a book before he died was a surprise to many Boyzone fans. But his band mates, his family and friends all knew about it and how enthusiastic he was about writing.

In fact, one of the main reasons he had gone back to his holiday home in Majorca, where he died in October 2009, was to finish the book.

The book was almost complete then and sometime after his death one of the first people to read the story was Breda Perdue, the managing director of publishers Hodder Hachette Ireland, who was sent a copy by Stephen's agent.

"It was clear to me immediately that Stephen was a really talented writer," Breda says. "He loved fantasy and the story is a really involving one, creating a detailed imaginary world along the lines of Narnia. I realised straight away that it deserved to be published in Britain, as well as here, so I urged our parent company in the UK to take it on."

The book, a fantasy novel centred around three children in a magical but dangerous world, is titled "The Tree of Seasons." It will be published as a 208-page hardback at the end of April by Hodder & Stoughton, one of the most prestigious publishers in Britain. Hodder recently paid what the Bookseller trade paper reported was "a very healthy advance" for the rights in the book.

Andrew Cowles will join with Boyzone to promote the book, with TV appearances and signings planned. Elton John, who was a friend of Stephen, is writing the foreword.

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