Police are searching the home of missing Royston woman Helen Bailey.
The 51-year-old was last seen in the town at about 2.45pm last Monday.
She is described as slim, with long black hair, but it is not known what she was wearing at the time she went missing.
It is believed she has her dog – a miniature Dachshund – with her and police are urging Helen to make contact to let them know she is safe and well.
Detective Inspector Lynda Coates, who is leading the investigation, said: “We understand that before Helen was reported missing she had apparently stated that she needed a little time to herself. However it has now been over a week since she was last seen or heard from and we are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare. We are keeping an open mind on the circumstances and have been carrying out a number of enquiries in order to try and locate Helen and these are continuing today with specialist searches in the Royston area.
“I would ask Helen to please get in contact with us if she sees this appeal to let us know she is safe and well.”
Many people in the wider community are growing increasingly concerned about her whereabouts – the appeal has been retweeted by fellow author J.K.Rowling, who has 7.16M followers.
The children’s author wrote a blog after her husband died in 2011, and is best known for the Electra Brown and Daisy Davenport book series.
She has connections to Kent, Northumbria and London.
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