The executive director of the Lyric theatre in Hammersmith has penned a book about her long struggle to conceive a baby.

Jessica Hepburn's autobiographical story The Pursuit of Motherhood was published at the beginning of February and was officially launched at Waterstones in Covent Garden, at an event attended by TV presenter Janet Ellis.

Janet, who lives in Hammersmith , hosted a question and answer session with Jessica, which allowed shoppers to find out more about the book and its author. It has already become a #1 Amazon Bestseller.

Jessica said: "I wanted to write the book I couldn’t find - an emotionally honest account of the secrecy, desperation and pain that surrounds infertility which acknowledges that, however hard you try, there might not be a happy ending but that even out of failure and disappointment there can be opportunity and triumph."

Infertility is a 'silent epidemic' of the modern world. It is estimated that one in five couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving and that over 50,000 women a year undergo IVF. Some of them will achieve the miracle baby they are hoping for but nearly two thirds of them will not.

In The Pursuit of Motherhood Jessica takes her readers on a seven year journey which began when she was diagnosed with ‘unexplained infertility’ - a condition which affects around 25% of infertile couples. Her pursuit becomes a crusade as she makes her way through nearly a dozen clinics and multiple rounds of IVF as well as going to many alternative and sometimes absurd lengths to have her own biological baby.

She also faces the heartbreak of several miscarriages and a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. But gradually, over time, her attempt to create a life becomes in itself life-enhancing.

This is Jessica's first book. To find out more go here .