Children's writer Matthew Skelton has spent the past year criss-crossing the globe to talk to youngsters about his novel set in Oxford's Bodleian Library.

The former student was once forced to make ends meet by dusting books in the library of an Oxford college. But Mr Skelton, 35, took inspiration from his literary surroundings and his debut novel Endymion Spring won him a six-figure sum last year.

The book, which has been riding high in the New York Times bestseller list, and in Germany, was published in paperback for the first time on Thursday.

Mr Skelton said: "It's been an incredible year. I've travelled right across the United States and Europe talking about the book.

"One of the highlights of the journey was a non-stop trip across the States which took in New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Kentucky. I must have travelled thousands of miles. It's been quite overwhelming but now I'm back in Oxford for a while.

"I'm still living in a rented flat off the Banbury Road. Although I'm eligible for a mortgage, I don't know if I could afford to buy a place in Oxford because property prices are so high.

"What I have found most rewarding and exhilarating is talking to children who have read my book.

"They appreciated what I was trying to do and have a much less jaded and cynical view than some adults and critics."

Mr Skelton is now working on his second book, a "sprawling epic of a novel" featuring foundlings and villains in the 18th century. It is set mostly in London.

He added: "Some of my young fans in England and Seattle have begged me to write a sequel to Endymion Spring, but at the moment I need to finish the book I'm working on because my publishers want it to come out next year."

Mr Skelton said he was delighted Warner Brothers have taken an option on the film rights to his first novel but realised film companies often bought film rights without making the film.

He added: "It's promising that there are number of children's books being made into films but there is a lot of competition, so I remain cautiously optimistic."

When the former Somerville College student finished Endymion Spring, his manuscript sparked a bidding war, with children's publisher Puffin finally clinching the deal. The novel was first published last March and has been sold in 20 countries worldwide.

Mr Skelton, whose next stop is County Wexford in Ireland, is hoping to fit in talks and signings in Oxfordshire over the next few months.