The aunt of Love Island contestant Gabby Jeffrey says she "smashed" her time on the show and has helped inspire her to pen three books.
Geordie author Jo Lyons released her third romantic comedy at the same time her 24-year-old niece Gabby was entering the villa. The 52-year-old admits that she has previously observed Gabby's behaviour while creating characters in her novels.
Gabby, who works as an Assistant Creative Stylist for Pretty Little Thing, recently appeared as a Casa Amor girl on the ITV show. She wasn't selected during the recoupling and left on Wednesday.
Read more: Gabby Jeffery breaks Love Island silence on recoupling 'drama' as she returns to Instagram
Jo has revealed how Love Island had been trying to get Gabby, who is originally from Leam Lane, Gateshead, but now lives in Manchester, to go on the show for three years. However she was previously too busy establishing her career.
Jo, who lives in Low Fell, Gateshead, said: "When bosses at the company said they would support her to go on the show she decided to find out what being a Love Islander had to offer!
"I packed her off with all three of my novels to get her in the mood.
"I think, even though she wasn’t picked, she has smashed it. You have to be very adventurous to do something like that. I can only imagine how intense it is in the villa.
"I’ll find out when I see her soon. She’s appearing on Aftersun on Sunday."
Jo's new book, The Coach Trip, focuses on a workaholic in her late 20s called Nell. She suddenly loses her job and flees to a Spanish retreat in search of answers as to why her choices about love, work and friendship have ended.
Jo, who is mam to Alfie, 21, and Finlay, 17, has previously released two other books - Benidorm, actually and Your Place or Mine?
She said: "I love Spain, its culture, the language, the people and so far, each of my novels has been based out there. It also helps give them a real holiday vibe. The Coach Trip is actually set in Albir where we used to live and where I spend every summer writing.
"My niece, Gabby, is also a great inspiration. The characters in Benidorm, actually spend a lot of time on their hair and make-up and skimpy outfits.
"Gabby and her friend came to visit while I was working on the manuscript and one afternoon, they looked at the time and gasped that they needed to get ready for their big night out in Benidorm.
"At 11pm they had yet to emerge, so I sent my son, Finlay, up to check that they hadn’t fallen asleep. He came back down looking confused, 'They’re still doing eyebrows!'
"They eventually jumped in a taxi after eleven hours in hair and make-up – how impressive is that? You’ve got to admire the stamina and attention to detail!
"I suppose it has all paid off because in a bizarre twist of life imitating art, while I sometimes reference characters turning up to work looking dressed to enter the Love Island villa, Gabby is actually on the show!"
Jo said Gabby is "incredibly kind and thoughtful" and has previously helped her with social media.
She said: "She’ll fly halfway round the world to be at family gatherings or my author talks when she knows I’m nervous. She helped me video my interview with Jasmine Harman at the A Place in the Sun show recently.
"I get lots of encouragement from all of my family and friends which is vital to the process."
Jo published 'Benidorm, actually' herself after watching videos on TikTok which showed her how to self-publish.
Jo was desperate for her mother Beatrice Jeffrey, 78, to hold a copy of her debut novel. She faced a race against time as Beatrice had been diagnosed with dementia and her health was deteriorating.
Jo released her second novel on March 31, after becoming inspired by the TV show A Place in the Sun.
Jo said: "Writing is like therapy for me only a lot cheaper! I wrote my debut novel Benidorm, actually about a singer struggling to deal with grief, to help me heal after my dad suddenly died from cancer.
"I wrote Your Place or Mine?, a novel about second chances, to help me through relationship problems and The Coach Trip is all about how bitter and lost I felt when I suddenly lost my job after years of dedication and sacrifice.
"I take these women from a dark place to a much happier place with a ton of laughs in between, and by the time I type The End I feel so much better about it all.
"My novels are a bit of fun, sparkling escapism because, Lord knows, life can get pretty heavy at times."
All three of her books are available on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coach-Trip-hilarious-romantic-comedy/dp/1739222024/
The Coach Trip is free on Kindle Unlimited and on special offer this week for 99p.
