FEATURES
been lucky enough to spend time down there, you will know it really helps to go down with a goal or project in mind!
I packed my notebook and a drawing pad along with a small set of watercolours and spent the next months slowly creating the illustrations to go along with the words and by the time I was due to fly home, the book was finished!
During my tour, the rest of the crew wanted to know why I would only swim and stay in my room instead of going out for a beer and to start with I was a little embarrassed about it so kept the book idea quiet. Eventually, Dan (the other pilot, a big, potentially intimidating gym aficionado) and Mike, (a sharp witted, curly headed winchman who is too clever for his own good) saw the illustrations. They insisted upon hearing the story and were adamant that I must do something with it, that I could not keep it just for Charlie. Their support and the support of many other friends gave me the push to actually publish the book.
Needless to say there was a fair amount of banter to go along with that support!
The story is about Charlie who wakes to find a small dragon called Ember curled in his sock drawer. She is crying in her sleep because she became lost in bad weather and can’t find her mum. Charlie immediately decides that this sounds like a quest and so the pair set off into the countryside to get Ember home.
It is written in rhyming verses, taking about 15 minutes to read through at a nice pace, and is perfect for children aged between 3 to 6 – although some of my friends children were given it to read and even some 9 year olds enjoyed it!
The book retails at £6.99 and is available direct from
www.redhairbooks.co.uk where you can read my blog and download free stuff like colouring pictures so that your own children can colour in Charlie and Ember. It is also available from Waterstones and Amazon.
I have already started working on the next book and hope to have it ready for spring 2014!
Reviews on Amazon
“My one year old loved looking at the pictures as I read this to him, for such a hyper child he sat totally still and was enthralled for the time it took me to read this.”
“Bought this story for my daughter after reading the review on facebook. Great bedtime story she loved it! Hopefully Matt will write some more. Top work.”
“A cracking story for the little ones from a new author and I’ve been led to believe that there are more in the pipeline. Bring them on I say.”
“A read this to my little girl (age 4) at bedtime and she loved it. The illustrations really helped her to follow the story. I’m sure it will become one of her regular requests. Looking forward to the next one.”
“Cannot get over how amazing this is! Well done Matt! Well written, with an added bit of humour! Would thoroughly recommend this to everyone and anyone I know! Hurry up with the next ones please. PS. Who knew you could draw so brilliantly!! ;-)”
“This is such a beautiful book! It’s great for children and parents enjoy it just as much at story time. A lot of love and care has obviously gone into this story, and the illustrations are wonderful.”
www.raf-ff.org.uk Envoy Winter 2013 11
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