ARMY musician Lee JH Fomes isn’t like other commuters who take the 6.12am service out of Alton station for Waterloo each morning, for while they read, text or plug in their ear phones, he open up his lap top and begins writing.

His latest book, called Art and the Aristocrat, has just been published and is the third in his series of the ‘L Shaped Village’ children’s fantasy stories featuring Art, the little boy who might one day grown up to be Santa Claus.

In this latest novel, Art’s future, and a world without Santa Claus, is threatened by some nasty characters in a kaleidoscope land of colour and magic as Art goes in search of the aristocrat who has the key to solve his problems.

The only problem is will Art, among the characters he encounters, be able to recognise the one who can save him? To add to the enjoyment, the book has some delightful illustrations by Alton artist Toni Goffe.

Lee, a member of The Corps of Army Musicians, also works on his books on the return journey home after a busy day playing trombone with the band that provides the music for the Changing of the Guard. He has recently has been posted to the Welsh Guards regimental band.

They only play in the morning but then the rest of the day is taken up with army duties, so it isn’t until he boards the 4.20pm service back to Alton, where he lives, that Lee can start writing again.

Becoming an author has been a long-held dream for Lee, who grew up in Medstead, where his parents still live, but he first he studied for his degree in music and social science before embarking on his writing career.

The first book, The L Shaped Village, published in 2011, was four years in the planning and now each one takes about a year to write. A fourth is now in the pipeline, he said.

Married to Hannah, the two met when they were pupils at Amery School in Alton, Lee has two young critics he can try the first drafts of his novel on, his twin children William and Molly.

“And they say they enjoy the stories although Molly likes to read them herself while William would prefer it in cartoon form,” he laughed.

Certainly his growing band of young readers love Art and his adventures and this latest book has come out in time to make it a nice Christmas present for some lucky girls and boys.

In two years time Lee is due to leave the Army but he isn’t sure if he will become a full-time writer.

“For one thing I would miss my ‘office’ on the train and the good thing about getting on at 6.12am and at Alton is I know I will always get a seat.”

Art and the Aristocrat is published by Lulu.com priced £7.99. Lee’s first two books in the series are being given away free as e-books.