Halliwell named best-selling celebrity children's author

Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has been named 2008's best selling children's author.

The singer-turned-storyteller published her own series of children's books about fictional heroine Ugenia Lavender earlier this year and has become the surprise hit of the kid's literature market.

In only a few months, Halliwell has shifted a mammoth 250,000 copies of her illustrated tale in the UK - which focuses on the antics of a feisty nine-year-old.

Not only has Halliwell seen massive sales, she has also been named the most successful celebrity author in recent years, according to British retailer WHSmith.

The 36-year-old said: "I'm so happy that everyone loves Ugenia as much as I do."

However, the star is not stopping at writing short stories - she announced earlier this week that she had penned her first film screenplay.