I hope that after you read this you might buy the book. It
costs less than a pint of beer and is available as an Amazon paperback – or Kindle
if you prefer (even Kindle unlimited). Let’s start with the link to it.
The
Secret of Eilean Mhor: Amazon.co.uk: Harris, George: 9781910693322: Books
A few years ago we had a family holiday on the west coast of
Scotland. My grandsons loved it – the beach, the woods, the hills. In fact we
have had a holiday somewhere on the west coast maybe a hundred times in the
last fifty years. I thought I would write a book about it.
I made it a children’s adventure story because of my grandchildren. Inventing and telling the adventure plot was fun, and I think it worked. As my daughter said to me later: “He’s reading your book right now. He can’t put it down.” But I was also keen to include all the bits that can make a holiday on that wonderful coast such a pleasure, for adults as well as for children. There is boating, hill walking, searching the machair for flowers, a Highland games, swimming, playing on the beach and exploring wild woodland.
One child whom I did not know at all – daughter of the
friend of a friend - said to me: “There’s only one thing wrong with your book.
It hasn’t got a sequel.”
I decided to make my own illustrations. They may not be
great art, but they do show exactly what I wanted. The clachan with its island is
invented but the mountain they go up is real. Readers can feel they are in
Moidart. I could have used photos of the area, such as these.
 |
| (No spoilers, but a cave and a washed-up telegraph pole are important in the story) |
Designing an Amazon paperback tested my new skills to the limit. The pagination of one or two of the chapter headings isn’t quite what I was after. Otherwise it is a very handy little book. It would make a good present for a young reader.
“A great adventure mystery story, set in one of the best places on earth - the west coast of Scotland. Would recommend! Thanks for writing this, it was amazing.”
There was also an exchange on Bluesky with the Arthur Ransome Society, and I was very pleased when they said this: The 12 Ransome books are for all ages. Setting of yours is a modern 'Great Northern?' while having baddies like S&A does. Later aspects of your book are more for older readers - can't go into details as it would be a plot spoiler. Like Jon Tucker's 'Those kids' you blend modern technology in well.
