A new children’s book set in Northumberland with illustrated stories of fairies, monsters and magical beasts is now on sale.
Once Upon A Time in Northumberland by Ashington author Lorna Windham is a collection of humorous short stories inspired by traditional, Northumberland folk tales such as Queen Mab’s Rothley Mill and Dancing Round the Hurl Stone, as well as classic fairy tales such as The Little Match Girl, The Tin Soldier and The Princess and the Pea.
Award-winning writer Lorna said, “I wanted to create stories which would stand the test of time and featured Northumberlandia, the River Blyth and the Simonside Hills - landmarks that many children in the North East will recognise. I loved creating the quirky characters and giving each a predicament to solve, particularly when this touched on modern concerns about the environment and wildlife.”
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In Once Upon A Time in Northumberland, Queen Mab, struggles to maintain harmony between the magical creatures who live in Enchanted Wood. Lorna said: “This is a kingdom where fairies fly, monsters stalk and wordragons roar. We discover unsettled honeybees, how, Groach, the queen’s half-sister, thinks her beauty is more important than kindness, and how two red squirrels, Fluffcoat, and Brighteyes, are concerned about the dangers some humans cause.”
As well as Once Upon A Time in Northumberland, Lorna has written three local history books, and three historical romances: The Jacobites’s Daughter, The Rebel and the Redcoat and The Jacobite Affair. Her poetry has been published in several anthologies. She is also a playwright and has co-written two audio plays with, Lily Moon, Rule 55 and 100 Not Out broadcast on Hive Radio.
Lorna’s, commemorative play, The Tenth Bord was performed at St Hilda’s Pithead, and The Word, South Shields. In 2008, she won the North Tyneside Short Story Competition with Spirit of the Age and her novel, Toby’s Secret, was longlisted in the Times/Chicken House Children’s Competition.
Once upon A Time in Northumberland is on sale at www.summerhillbooks.co.uk , Northumberlandia, Al's Ashington, Frameworks, Blyth; Newcastle Library, The Word, Post Office, Northumberland Street, Newcastle; Post Office, Jackson Street, Gateshead; Back Page, Newcastle and Gateshead and Clay's Garden Centre, Washington.
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