I’ve started to write the first book in a series about the “Glastonbury Twins” – a girl and a boy who live in Glastonbury, Somerset. The thing is they’re not really twins – but more of that as time goes on. In the first book, they have to travel in time and space from Glastonbury to Cornwall and back on a special quest – more of which later. I’m pleased to be combining Somerset, where I live, with Cornwall which I love. There is also a connection between Glastonbury and Tintagel – more of which later!!

Watch this space…

Book Review by Elizabeth Dale – Cornish Bird

• The Mermaid of Doom Bar by Keith Maxwell. Illustrated by Joanna Black and Lydia Carter.

Stories are part of our Cornish bedrock. They once helped us make sense of the world around us, to explain the unfathomable, the mysterious or the frightening. Whether it was using giants to account for our fantastic geology or those naughty piskies to explain why we got lost on the way home from the pub. And it is the same today. Stories entertain, they enlighten, but very often they help us to understand and to heal.

In The Mermaid of Doom Bar, Keith Maxwell weaves the whispers of an ancient legend into a modern allegory. This is a haunting tale of loss and bereavement but it also an affirmation of the importance of allowing the magical and the unexplained into your world.

Beautifully illustrated throughout this is a small book that tackles some big themes with sensitivity. It could be a useful tool when approaching the subjects of death and grief with a child but it also stands alone as an entertaining and thought-provoking story.
Keith’s love of and connection to Cornwall is clear and heart-warming. The scene he creates is both recognisable and timeless. The Mermaid of Doom Bar is a lovely traditional fable told with a charming, contemporary voice.

• The Mermaid of Doom Bar is available to order on Amazon and will be popping up in your local bookshops very soon I am sure.

www.magicalfiction.wordpress.com

Trebarwith Strand – setting for my next book, working title Golden Strand. It’s set in the present day and 1790s Cornwall – the Poldark era! It’s a story of hope and determination against the odds – and features a monkey, more of which later! If you’ve gone back to school recently I hope you’re having a good term and enjoying reading for pleasure!

Anyone who has read The Mermaid of Doom bar, child or adult, it would be great if you could comment on what you thought – or maybe leave a nice review on Amazon! For me, this is very much a one off story, based on an old Cornish legend which does deal with difficult issues. I am currently planning two more stories – very different to “Mermaid”. One is set in both the present day and 1790s Cornwall. The other is set in Cornwall and also Glastonbury in Somerset and goes back and forwards in time. So a busy autumn for me.

Padstow and the Camel Estuary in Cornwall is the main setting in #TheMermaidofDoomBar. This is where the legend of the Padstow Mermaid and the creation of Doom Bar came from. Adults among you will probably know Doom Bar as a beer, but in the book and in reality it’s a sand bar in the Camel Estuary.

The Salonica in #TheMermaidofDoomBar is based on a fishing boat that I’ve seen in Padstow Harbour. You may well see it yourself if you visit Padstow. The name “Salonica” comes from the half-sister of Alexander the Great who, after his death, was said to live in the Aegean Sea as a Mermaid, passing judgement on sailors who passed by.

Amazon works in strange ways… but anyhow, you can now get #TheMermaidofDoomBar next day delivery. Also, distribution means that you can also order the book from various other sites such as Waterstones. I found out yesterday you can even order it from a book store in Grass Valley, California, which happens to be twinned with Bodmin!

If you visit Amazon to seek out #TheMermaidofDoomBar you will find a special promotional message. This is especially for Prime Day.

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Well, this is the main setting for #TheMermaidofDoomBar. It’s the Camel Estuary and Padstow. In the book, the fictional local story teller, Dave Penrose, tells the story of the Mermaid of Doom Bar. Strangely, the fate of the Venning family is linked to this story. The Vennings have inextricable links with Padstow. Time and fate weave their magic, as Jack Venning embarks on his odyssey of healing.

You can easily find The Mermaid of Doom Bar on Amazon. I hope you will be tempted to buy a copy. It’s kind of for readers of 8 and above.

Since launching last Friday, #TheMermaidofDoomBar has been in the bestselling lists in 3 categories including Mermaid Tales and Myths for Children. So pleased about that. Got to keep the momentum going. Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy.