AGE IS absolutely no barrier when it comes to Steep novelist Ron Jameson.

The 92-year-old is celebrating his birthday with the launch today (Wednesday) of his second novel.

Ron will be signing copies of The Leopard’s Lair, as well as his first novel The Whistling Thorn, at One Tree Books at 6pm.

He has taken a year to write The Leopard’s Lair, which is subtitled The Life and Loves of a Wartime Pilot, and says bashing away on his laptop keeps his brain active.

The colourful characters he conjures up keep him company too.

In his latest work, with the striking cover created by Petersfield artist Kathryn Ellis-Blandford, he is quite taken with the two ballerinas who are after the Kenyan farmer turned hero pilot.

He explains: “One is a feisty redhead who, leopard-like, launches herself headlong at her prey. The other is as a cheetah and stalks her prey for the final charge.”

It is an action tale, with graphic wartime and hunting scenes, as well as a romance. It is set partly in London and partly in Kenya.

Ron was an RAF pilot, so understands well what he is writing about, and Africa has a special place in his heart, as he carried out aerial mapping there.

He is now working on his third book since a friend advised him to write one a year until he is 100.

This could either be a fantasy set in Kent or a straightforward romance, he hasn’t quite decided yet.

There will be wine, birthday cake and musical entertainment at One Tree Books tonight.