People Book Prize nominated author Lilly Say looks elated as she shows off her book Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice at a bookstore in Woodford Green.

Ilford Recorder: Lily Say, 17, signs a copy of her bookLily Say, 17, signs a copy of her book (Image: Archant)

Readers originally believed that the book’s author was a grandmother, and a wife of 50 years, Hilda Poppit.

Ilford Recorder: L-R Mark Killeen, who plays Mero in Game of Thrones, with author Lilly Say. Photo credit: Glyn TaylorL-R Mark Killeen, who plays Mero in Game of Thrones, with author Lilly Say. Photo credit: Glyn Taylor (Image: Archant)

However, Miss Say was forced to come clean and reveal she was the author after being shortlisted for the prestigious People’s Book Prize Spring 2014.

Actor Mark Killeen, who appears in long-running TV hit, Game of Thrones, also attended the book signing at the Village Bookshop in High Road earlier this month.

Speaking after the event, Miss Say said: “It was an amazing day, I am still finding it hard to believe that people want to buy my book, and have come out to support me, and then Mark Killeen came as well, to be honest it still feels like a dream.

“After today, the next step is to hopefully win the Peoples Book Prize, which my book is a finalist in, so fingers crossed.”