A woman has completed her granddaughter's unfinished novel after the teenager's sudden death.

Allana Raine King passed away in 2018 at the age of 19 due to complications from encephalitis, a rare autoimmune brain condition.

The aspiring author died within months of diagnosis - leaving her first novel 'Land of the Free' unfinished.

But her grandmother Lorraine Martin was inspired to complete her granddaughter's work - and it is now on sale in Bristol's Waterstones.

Lorraine said that Allana had completed 90% of her novel before her death.

But added it was a daunting task as she had no prior writing experience - adding how "emotionally and creatively" challenging it was."

Lorraine, 72, from Western-super-Mare, Somerset, said: "I have enjoyed every moment. I felt a connection to her and it gave me some kind of focus. "

"It was a promise I made to herself and to myself after her passing - she has got so far and I have got to finish it. "

"She would be happy with the way it ended. It was her goal and her dream and I just wanted to make her dream come true."

Allana's novel is a futuristic story set in a tribal homeland that follows the hero, Rocky, as he struggles to break free of the oppression of traditional expectations.

Lorraine said that her task of finishing the novel was made easier by notes left by Allana.

"It took me a while to consider it and give it a go," she said."

"I just thought I'd shut the door in my little office and immerse myself in the story line and words just started flowing out."

Amongst her notes there was a sketch and so Lorraine asked her nephew to bring it to life.

The sketch was then used as the front of the book.

At the time of her death, Allana was set to head to university to study creative writing and English literature at Kingston-upon-Thames University when she went on a family holiday to Greece.

She became ill after arriving home and then spent weeks in hospital, with doctors initially unable to give an exact diagnosis, as symptoms of encephalitis.

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused either by an infection invading the brain, via a virus or bacteria, or through the immune system attacking healthy cells and tissues in the brain or spinal cord.

Although some people can recover from encephalitis with no consequences, others sadly may die and in some people nerve cells in the brain may be damaged or destroyed by the inflammation - the resulting damage termed an acquired brain injury (ABI).

On October 12 Allana experienced a psychotic episode, due to her illness, which caused severe distress, triggering her into a fight or flight-mode response.

Her fear led her to a fall onto the main railway line near Weston-super-Mare, where she was hit by a train and killed instantly.

Her death devastated her family, but Lorraine was inspired to finish her grand-daughter's work and at the same time bring attention to the disease, which claimed her life.

Lorraine said: "She was my first granddaughter and we spent a lot of time together. It was amazing that we had such a lovely bond together. "

"Allana's words were influenced by her daily life experiences, never happier than when writing in her favourite coffee shop, a place where she felt like she could escape without leaving, as if it was a vacation, with her favourite drink - a coconut chai milkshake."

"Her desire was to have her novel published and for her family and readers to enjoy her book, be inspired by her words and never give up on their dreams."

Half the proceeds from sales of The Land of the Free will go to Encephalitis International - the global non-profit authority on encephalitis, providing support and information to people affected by all types of the disease.

To buy The Land of the Free, please visit: www.tangentbooks.co.uk/shop