STORIES FOR CHILDREN

The characters in children’s stories, however fantastical or unlikely, are as real as those in adult novels. That’s certainly the case with Stanley, the fairy who lives in the washbasin in my bedroom. So far, I’ve written seven stories about him. He’s rude, miserable and always complaining. It suits him to live under a dripping tap so that he can constantly confirm that life is awful. Each story involves some interchanges between him and me. I’m the one who, woken by grandchildren in the early mornings when I’m staying with them, am usually quite happy to concoct the weird creatures and stories they demand. And I enjoy it as much as they do. But, for these, I call myself Jack Rosse. It’s no surprise to me that he’s usurped my position at the top of the page. The illustration is by the highly talented Melanie Chadwick.

The Loch Ewe Mystery

Loch Ewe is a sea loch on the north west coast of Scotland in the mysterious Highlands. Ben and Charlie are on holiday, learning to sail in the dinghy Ben made with his dad. Ben feels the draw of the wind and waves, the stones and hills; Charlie prefers facts, statistics. But they’re a team. Which is just as well because, when Ben has to sail alone through a squall for help, he gets tangled up (literally) with 3 vicious men who are smuggling drugs. The peace of the Loch is shattered as Ben and Charlie are chased, captured, tied up and locked in a room in a remote cottage with one of their captors guarding them. Escape is impossible and yet they know that if they don’t get clear before Lomax, the ruthless leader of the men, gets back, they’ll be in deep, deep trouble. The Loch Ewe Mystery is an ebook, available on Amazon in the UK here, the USA here or from Solstice Publishing.