Published: Wednesday, 16th June, 2010 3:54pm

Top Ten Slot for Ian's Book

Ian and Nan McMurdo

A CUMNOCK author's book chronicling his wife's courage and determination against Multiple Sclerosis has made it into the top 10 best-sellers list.

Ian McMurod's "A Life Worth Living" has flown off the shelves taking the 8th top spot on Waterstones chart.

Ian and wife Nan are overwhelmed with how successful the book, now going through a second print, has become.

Waterstones stores across Scotland including Ayr, East Kilbride, Falkirk and Aberdeen branches all now stock Ian's book - and he has even been asked to attend a book signing at Waterstones Stirling store on Thursday July 15 at 6pm.

The book details Nan's 30 year fight with MS, tales of their dogs and trips to the Isle of Arran. Back in April, Ian told the Chronicle he believed pregnant wife Nan would die at the age of 24 when she was diagnosed with MS. But after tackling adversity for 30 years he finally put pen to paper and hoped to provoke discussion about MS by tackling series issues in a humorous way, and to help suffers confront their own demons.

Now aged 59, Nan never let her illness get the better of her and continued to live her life to the max, and daughter Jillian also survived the ordeal unharmed and is now a mother herself, followed by brother Derek.

At the time Ian told the Chronicle he would never forget the summer when pregnant Nan was told she had contracted MS. He said: "One day she could be horse riding, water skiing and ice skating, but within a matter of a few months she was completely unable to walk. We were absolutely devastated."

But now Ian and Nan are delighted with response to their book. Granddad Ian, 61, added "It's been much more successful than we ever could have expected. What's particularly pleasing is the very positive feedback we've been getting from people who themselves are disabled and find Nan's story inspirational. It's almost as if a trouble shared is a troubled halved. People have connected with her refusual to lay down to MS."

The second edition of "A Life Worth Living" is available from Costcutters in Cumnock, Many Thanks in Mauchline, New Cumnock Post Office, Brigend Garage in Auchinleck, and Waterstones in Ayr. And some proceeds from the book will go towards the MS Society and the Ayrshire Hospice. You can also find it online by following this link. http://tiny.cc/mcmurdo