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Children's author, illustrator, screenwriter

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mousehunter

The Mousehunter Book One – Updated edition Out Now

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The Mousehunter was first published back in 2008. It was my debut book, and I am still incredibly proud of it, so I’m really thrilled to have had the chance to go back and refresh it, tweaking some bits I was never satisfied with (using my author copy that I’d edited by hand any time I read aloud at school visits), and creating a brand new cover.

You can get the digital edition now on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited).

Would you like a print copy?

Currently, we don’t have a print edition of the updated book, but please do let me know if you’re interested in one. If I have enough interest, I will definitely look into getting one made. I’d really like to do a special edition, perhaps as a Kickstarter, but while I’m still struggling with Chronic Fatigue/Long Covid, I’m trying not to get too many plans on the go! Just hit reply to this email.

Books two and three will be following along! Stay tuned…

THE MOUSEHUNTER (Book one)

Embark on the most dangerous, thrilling, and swashbuckling adventure of a lifetime in this fun, fast-paced tale – perfect for fans of Frostheart, Nevermoor, and How To Train Your Dragon!

Join Emiline, the intrepid mousekeeper, as she sails the high seas in pursuit of the notorious pirate, Captain Mousebeard.

One dark and stormy night, a pirate washes ashore carrying a mysterious box around his neck. The box bears a chilling warning for Isiah Lovelock, the town’s leading mouse collector. And who is this warning from? Only the Seventeen Seas’ most feared pirate – Mousebeard.

Soon Emiline, Lovelock’s mousekeeper, finds herself aboard Captain Drewshank’s ship in pursuit of the enigmatic pirate Captain. But who is Mousebeard, really? And what hidden motives are driving Lovelock’s fury? Emiline must uncover the truth in a treacherous world filled with spies, ship battles, and sea monsters, where the Nosferatu Mouse flits through the night, the Howling Moon Mouse haunts exotic islands, and the Cadaver Mouse seeks out dying sailors…

“Highly recommended for kids and grownups alike” – Wired”

Get your copy here.

Unused Mousehunter story and illustrations

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I’ve been having a clearout and I uncovered a stash of rough illustrations for a new short story featuring Emiline and Portly. I wrote a bit of it, but I think yetis or some other work got in the way.

And so here it is, all messy and unfinished, but I thought you might like it.


Emiline stepped over the slippy rocks and slid down onto the narrow beach. The rain was easing and the dark grey clouds moving on.

‘I love summer,’ she muttered unimpressed, tightening her jacket.
She shook her shoulder-length blonde hair in an attempt to dry it, and let her pet mouse Portly out of his Mousebox. He ran up to her shoulder and stretched out tall, breathing the fresh sea air.

‘Not much of a day off, is it?’ she said, walking towards the sea. Portly squeaked happily in reply.

In amongst the large rocks that scattered the beach, the damp sand was deep brown and glistening, still soaked from the recent downpour and the retreating tide. Emiline paced around a pool of water, her footprints leaving shallow, crisp impressions behind her. To balance herself she clutched a tall cluster of rocks, some up to her waist in height. Portly suddenly leapt from her arm onto a rock and squeaked loudly. Emiline stopped, turning her head to see him sniffing the air.


‘What is it?’ said Emiline.

Portly sniffed a few more times and then vanished behind the rock. Emiline leaned over and found her mouse sat on top of a large crate, built of wonky wooden planks. There was another crate alongside it, and Portly crawled slowly across both of them, his nose pressed to their surfaces.

Emiline noticed that one of the crates had the word ‘Mouse’ painted on its side in thick brushtrokes. She gasped in excitement, and as she did the crates started to squeak. There were mice inside…

…

If anyone wants to finish this story, please, feel free. I’d love to know what type of mouse was inside the boxes.

The yeti mouse at Beckenham Library

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I’ve done a couple of events at local libraries of late. We still don’t know how they’ll be affected by budget cuts, but both Penge and Beckenham library were so welcoming, and clearly playing a great role in the local community. The children were really kind to me, and some had even read the Mousehunter! Who’d have thought?

Any way, If you live near me and aren’t members at Upper Norwood, Penge or Beckenham libraries, please go join and support them – they’ve got great teams of staff and deserve all the help they can get.

And this here picture is of a Yeti Mouse. I’ve never seen one of this rare species before, but last Friday, in the middle of the library, I was asked to draw one. This was how I pictured it…