Story by TOM JACKSON WISBECH woman Dee Hunwicks never thought she would get a chance to write a book after falling ill one evening. But after recovering from pneumonia she started to write a cookbook, with work colleague Paul Brodel, entitled What s for d

Story by TOM JACKSON

WISBECH woman Dee Hunwicks never thought she would get a chance to write a book after falling ill one evening.

But after recovering from pneumonia she started to write a cookbook, with work colleague Paul Brodel, entitled What's for dinner?

The book was launched on the Ideal World shopping channel and is already the biggest-selling book in Ideal World's history.

"It was a total dream I never thought would happen in a million years," said Mrs Hunwicks, of Camargue Place.

"Who would have thought a 48-year-old woman who thought it was the end of the world would have her name on her cookbook. I never did - but it's all thanks to Paul.

And ahe added: "If there is something awful happened in your life, don't give up because somewhere along the line there is something that could change your life for you."

Mrs Hunwicks, a food stylist and model at Ideal World, was rushed to hospital with what was believed to be bladder cancer or kidney cancer.

It turned out to be type one diabetes, but she had also contracted pneumonia and had low levels of potassium.

After making a full recovery, she returned to work and teamed up again with Mr Brodel, a chef at Ideal World.

Mrs Hunwicks said: "Paul said to me when I returned to work that he always wanted to write a recipe book but always wanted to do it with someone else - and asked me if I fancied doing this."

Mr Brodel has worked on shows such as Here's One I Made Earlier and was told by friends and colleagues to, one day, write a cookbook.

"Once we started talking about food we never stopped," he said, "And it went from there."

They started to write their book at Mr Brodel's Cambridge home and, just over a year later, it was launched last Thursday.

Mrs Hunwicks said: "Paul had this experience from writing books before and he knew how he wanted it - with lots of pictures, big writing and ring binded so the pages do not close on you."

They are now looking at a second volume for the book and is interested in hearing people's ideas.

# What's for dinner? is available from Ideal World, priced £12.99, and from www.paulbrodel.co.uk, priced £19.99. Ideas can be emailed to cook@paulbrodel.co.uk.