A BAR manager-turned published author says he wants to share his story to encourage other “ordinary” people to think about writing books.

Ian Clark, of Manor Park, is taking part in a book signing event at South Woodford Library this weekend (May 21) to talk about how he came to write his book, 4:26am.

Published in August last year, the biography describes how a distressed phone call at 4.26 in the morning triggered a nervous breakdown, which then lead him to a key psychological discovery.

He 55-year-old said: “After I had that experience, I came up with a theory about sleep paralysis and night terrors that the best scientists and psychologists missed.

“I’m just a bar manager and yet I managed to realise something they hadn’t after years of research.

“I’ve taken a subject that has been belittled by experts and made it into a successful book.

“This is about showing what extraordinary things ordinary people can do.”

This weekend’s Book Signing Saturday looks at the theme of spirituality and will be attended by a number of other east London authors who have written on the subject.

South Woodford author and counsellor Usha Chudasama will discuss her book No Child is Broken, while neuro-scientist Dr Graham Clingbine talks about his latest publication Disclosure: The Future is Now and Irene Nunez Martinez looks at her book Trials, Torments and Teachings.

All the authors will be on hand to answer questions about writing, pitching and publishing.

The event will run from 12pm to 2pm this Saturday at the library in High Road, South Woodford.