New Book I Wish It Were Raining Available!

Finally, the day is here! My latest picture book, I Wish It Were Raining, is avialable to buy! 

With 16 double-page illustrations, this is my most ambitious effort to date. To say I'm a little drained after the effort put in to this one would be an understatement. 

I wrote the first draft of this simple rhyming story several years ago, and it stayed in a folder of other "stuff" for a while. A few months ago I decided to dust it off, make some improvements and contemplated seeking an established publisher. Certainly, I'd rather work with a publisher (and an agent, if there's one interested!), so, I'm not really an indie publisher by choice. 

However, I really enjoyed doing the artwork for Strawberry Scoreberries last year, so I decided to give the illustrating another go. Publishers prefer to work with their own illustrators (unless you're an established writer/illustrator), so I knew it would have to go the indie route again. I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with the illustrations and the book overall. 

So, you now know the title, what is it all about? Well, here's the sales pitch. "Sun, wind, snow, rain - What weather do you wish for, and what would you do? Maybe it's splashing in puddles all day or flying a kite as it soars like a bird in the windiest of winds. As the stars twinkle at the end of a busy day playing outside, every child looks forward to the biggest goodnight hug before bedtime. I Wish It Were Raining is written in a playful rhyme with weather-inspired scenes to spark a child's imagination." Oh, and like my other books to date, there are a few puzzles at the back.

  Here's the promotional video for you to (hopefully) enjoy!
Buy I Wish It Were Raining.

The Chimple

The Chimple

"Why is that Chimpanzee called The Chimple”?
Asked the girl, her nose obscured by a pimple.
“Why my dear it is so very simple,”
Replied her Grandfather, his mind still nimble.

“You see, The Chimple swing in a rope tyre thing
And The Chimple dance, jiggle and prance.

If you can call it song, The Chimple sing.
The Chimple try anything once, given chance.

“The Chimple eat bananas all day long.
Watched by a crowd, The Chimple do no wrong.
Throw a party and The Chimple drink tea
And in a funny hat The Chimple look like me!”

“Ah I see” said The Chimple watching Girl.

Yet thoughts of The Chimple made her head swirl.
“But how will I recall what The Chimple do?
I’d like to know, so please tell me so,
Because he’s my highlight in the zoo”

Well, the name of The Chimple is quite clear,
So remember this simple rule, my dear.

Swing, dance, jiggle, prance, sing song once then cheer.
Banana, part-tea, funny hat, The Chimple do all year!”

The straw that broke the camel's back

Emily was in an awful mess,
And she didn’t know what to do.
It was her who put the final straw
On her pet toy camel Stu.

The straw that broke the camel’s back
Well at least his dromedary hump.
And now he looks awful silly
Without his single lump.

As a humped camel he would
Rove for miles and miles
Across desert dunes and pudding spoons, 
And he always raised some smiles.

Big camel hooves made the funny camel move
Across the playful pit of sand,
Always safe in the knowledge
That Emily was close at hand.

Spitting was a disgusting camel habit
Stu’s manners were quite atrocious.
Emily’s mum wished she’d bought a rabbit
Or something less ferocious.

And like all camels Stu’s pong
Was ever so stinking strong.
Emily bathed him every day,
Yet the smell refused to go away.

Emily and Stu were inseparable
Like a monkey and some bananas.
Emily and her smelly camel
Even had matching pyjamas!

Stu was stronger than a car
The strongest toy by far.
So, to prove he was the best
He attempted a daring stunt.

His way of demonstrating his talent
Was to carry a bale of straw.
It was all fine until Stu’s bravado kicked in
And he asked Emily for some more.

As the final straw was placed
Upon the camel’s back,
Stu grunted at the weight
Then Emily heard a loud CRACK!

Rushing to his side
Through a swarm of swirling meadow,
“Your hump is missing!” she cried
And her tears began to flow.

Emily’s cries were so loud
That at the bottom of the stairs
Her screams had brought a crowd,
A throng of upward glares.

Through the gathering of people
A superhero appeared.
One holding a tube of glue
And wearing a stubbly beard!

“Never fear, darling, Daddy’s here!”
Said the calmest toned voice.
Whenever there was a problem
This man was Emily’s choice.

In an instant Stu was humped once more
And Emily’s tears were wiped.
Daddy was a hero
Though his story was slightly hyped.

As Daddy left the scene
Of Emily placing Stu on the shelf,
Mummy snuck up behind him
With almost cat-like stealth.

“How did you know” she accused
“That the answer to Emily’s cries
Was in a tube of super glue?”
Clearly Mum had no need for spies.

Dad knew the game was up,
This was no time for lies.

“A hero never tells his secrets” Said Dad,
But Mum didn’t agree.
She pushed for answers and, at last,
He said “I sat on him at breakfast -
It was me who broke the Dromedary!”