A local author and tutor has won a coveted literary prize for her study guide for teenagers with dyslexia.

Last year Alais Winton, published The Self Help Guide for Teens with Dyslexia; Useful Stuff You May Not Learn at School.

The 128 page paperback showcases a collection of tried and tested learning strategies aimed at young people dealing with dyslexia. Among other techniques Alais uses to learn effectively are mind mapping, colour coding and pictographic references.

"These are strategies that I have picked up over the last 20 years," said Alais.

"Because I'm dyslexic myself, because I'm a teacher and because I love learning, I have changed my strategies on how I deal with things like exams.

The book was snapped up by London based publishing house, Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Last month she was delighted to learn that it had won a gold award in the 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards.

"It was really exciting," she said. "I didn't even know it had been entered. It is lovely to have that recognition, you never know how your first book is going to do."

A representative for Foreword review magazine, which runs the awards said.

"Alais' publisher thought enough about the book to submit it to our 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards.

"The first round of finalists are chosen by our editorial team, and they make decisions based on their experience of what makes an excellent book.

"Hundreds of books are submitted in each category, so making it to the finalist round is a significant honour in itself.

"Ms. Winton's book, along with 12-15 other finalists, was then sent to a bookseller and a librarian to determine the top books. This is what distinguishes our awards programme from others, vendors in the real world who understand what their patrons want and what will sell."