Press and Reviewer Information
Introducing the Crumbly Thickets Trilogy
Book 1: The Hidden Stories of Crumbly Thickets
(published August 2024, 408 pages, New Generation Publishing, ISBN 1835633110)
Written in a warm, witty, and richly imaginative style appealing to older children and adults alike, The Hidden Stories of Crumbly Thickets describes childhood as a realm of intelligence, imagination, and moral courage. Tonally, the novel sits at the crossroads of magical realism, social commentary, and emotional sincerity.
At the heart of the story is ten‑year‑old Petralina – a girl whose instinct to wonder becomes her greatest strength. Through her eyes, the reader experiences the disturbing modernisation of the town of Crumbly Thickets after the arrival of Scrimpers Megadrome, a futuristic corporation which sets out to destroy all the school storybooks. Petralina’s struggle is not only to save them but to save the freedoms, joys, and securities of childhood itself.
Rich in sensory detail and character insight, the novel follows Petralina as she moves between childhood feelings and adult deception, belonging and estrangement, and the everyday world and the magical realm of the hidden stories. Crisp and character‑revealing, the dialogue is often very funny, especially when children innocently expose the absurdity of adult systems and behaviour. These heartwarming or comic scenes sit alongside vividly atmospheric descriptions of bakeries, forests, animals and eerie underground chambers.
As Petralina allies with Alec – a mysterious rebel teenager with a legendary past – the plot deepens into a story of kindness, friendship, and the resilience of the human heart in a high‑tech age, culminating in surprising reveals that reframe everything Petralina thought she knew. The result is a novel that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary.
Book 2: The Lost Jewel of Crumbly Thickets
(scheduled to be published September 2026, 367 pages, New Generation Publishing)
Manuscript available for reviewing now !
Written in the same warm, witty, and richly imaginative style as the first novel, The Hidden Jewel of Crumbly Thickets continues to portray childhood as a realm of intelligence, wonder, and moral courage. This second instalment unfolds in a wintry Crumbly Thickets shaken by snowstorms, blackouts, and a newly emboldened Scrimpers regime. With increased surveillance across the town and free, memory‑altering school milk, the corporation’s influence becomes both more intrusive and unsettling.
At the centre of the story is ten‑year‑old Petralina, whose instinct to wonder now meets a world demanding sharper choices. Separated from her closest friend and drawn into an unexpected new companionship, she must navigate shifting loyalties, the ache of absence, and the fragile territory between belonging and independence. Her journey becomes increasingly emotional as questions of love, identity, and the complicated bonds of family rise to the surface.
Meanwhile, the town’s shopkeepers—still rich in humour and haphazard bravery—scramble to host an event to keep the community spirit alive. Throughout, the hidden stories continue to weave their subtle animal magic, offering guidance, mystery, and glimpses of long‑buried truths, leading Petralina into strange, luminous encounters where memory, history and the human heart intertwine.
Urgent, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful, The Hidden Jewel of Crumbly Thickets deepens the series’ blend of magical realism and social commentary, revealing what it takes to stay human—and to choose love—within a system that threatens both.
Book 3 - currently work in progress. Publication planned for 2028
Author Biography
- 1962: Born in Bramhall, raised in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, UK
- 1974: Sheldon Trophy Award for Creativity - Cheadle Hulme County High School
- 1983: Bachelor of Arts Degree in English - Loughborough University, UK
- 1984: Postgraduate Certificate of Education - Loughborough University, UK
- 1986: Top Student Award - Kings Bible College, Vancouver, Canada
- 1987: Moved to Germany
- 1988: Founded "Britannia Language School" teaching English, German and French to students, scientists and businesspeople for over 30 years
- 2024: Indie Author - published debut novel in a middle-grade reader trilogy, "The Hidden Stories of Crumbly Thickets"
- 2026: Kirkus Review and Award for "The Hidden Stories of Crumbly Thickets"
- 2026: Publishing second novel in the middle-grade reader trilogy, "The Lost Jewel of Crumbly Thickets"
Vision & Motivation
My novels blend magical realism, offbeat humour and sharp social insight, guided by the idea that kindness, belonging and self‑confidence can be superpowers in a world that feels increasingly dark.
I write to celebrate the creativity and imagination of children, offering middle-grade and older readers adventures that sparkle, while inviting them to think deeply about forces that threaten to distort the world we share.
At the heart of my vision is the belief that the joys, freedoms and securities of childhood deserve protection. The magic in my novels lies not in spells or sorcery, but in the everyday wonders of nature, friendship, courage and the beautiful, surprising moments that shape a child’s inner world. These are the experiences that help children see themselves and their surroundings with a freshness and joy that, I hope, will stay with us — children and adults alike — for a lifetime.
Who is this book for?
- for readers aged 9–99 who love nature, bakeries, and everyday wonder
- for those who want to keep kindness, humour and imagination alive in a world that feels increasingly dark
- for anyone inspired by stories where young people show courage and heart
- for the investigator in all of us looking for clues
- for families, teachers, and book clubs seeking stories that spark reflection across generations
Request Manuscript for Review
If you wish to review my book, please contact me using the form below stating your preferred medium (printed copy, PDF, EPUB)