A TALE of lovers on both sides of the Atlantic is at the heart of a new book to be published shortly by prolific Forest of Dean writer and Clearwell Caves owner Ray Wright.

And there are even more parallels with an alternative universe, about as far as this report can go without giving away the story – and it also forms the basis of a puzzle with a series of clues which could lead readers to a free holiday either here or in the U.S.

"The Forest of Dean in America is a very real place, and finding out about it led me to write the story," said Ray, who is producing the illustrated book, Secrets of the Mine, with the help of Forest publisher Doug McLean.

"It is actually in Orange County some 45 miles from New York and not very far away from the West Point military academy.

"Like our Forest it is also the site of an iron mine, and of course iron produced by both areas was used in the American War of Independence to make cannon – for use by opposing sides."

Ray is intrigued by the links his ongoing research into the U.S. Forest of Dean could uncover, and hopes in time more similarities and an origin for the New World namesake will come to light.

"I also wanted to weave the tale – although it is fiction it is built on solid facts – around a contest to entertain visitors and give them a bit of fun," he said.

His holiday prize in the U.S., says Ray, will be in the vicinity of the mine but not its exact location – it is a closed zone because of nearby West Point.