Book Tuesday: A Tale of Knots

 

Hello.  Grab a cup and come join me at the table. Unfortunately my evenings have turned into battles with unruly children, which cuts into my coffee time with you. Since we missed our Monday Coffee together, I thought it would be nice to have a cuppa and discuss a book today.

Firstly, how was your weekend?  I hope you had a lovely rest and got up to something nice. I had a relaxing time for the first time in many weekends because I have finished The Iron Pendulum at last.  It has taken a while to edit it as little wisps of the story kept pushing and pulling in odd directions.  They have been safely tied down and neatly packed away, so I’m happy.  My Hot Shot Updates newsletter went out successfully and a few lucky subscribers were given a chance to read The Iron Pendulum before it goes to market.

Now that one book is off the to-do list for the time being, it is time to concentrate on the next outstanding project.

I have chosen A Tale of Knots.

This little book has been sitting around for a while now and even though it is available as an ebook, it has had very little love coming its way.  Well, thanks to my illustrator, Carol-Marie, the story about the Hairs and Knots of Hairington will be coming to life very soon.  I have collected my original draft and her beautiful illustrations so that editing can begin again.  This will be the second or third time trying to get this little book to market!

Have another slice of cake and relax.  Let me give you a little excerpt of A Tale of Knots to explore whilst I pop the kettle back on.

Once upon a time, there was a rather special town called Knotsville.  Now the people of Knotsville were a lovely bunch. They worked hard together, weaving and plaiting to make beautiful designs. They sold or displayed their work in other towns. 

Unfortunately, their nice nature left them open to attack!  For example, there was a particularly nasty dome of follicles that absolutely hated the Knotsvillians.  They were known as the Hairingtons!

“We all know how messy those Hairs are, right?” screamed a Knotsvillian to his friends.  “If we let the Hairs near our homes, do you think they will be neat?”

“Nooo!” came the response from the other Knotsvillians.  

“We want neat! We want flat! We don’t want a messy plait!” sang the other Knotsvillians.

Knotsvillians knew the Hairingtons refused to be tied down.  There was nothing to hold them back.  If the Knotsvillians were not careful, Hairs would spread and take over their homes.  Weaving and Plaiting would stop and they would lose their happy lives.  Most Knotsvillians wanted to live in peace, but some feared the Hairingtons.  They wanted to keep the Hairs away.

The Knotsvillians called a meeting.  It was time to make a stand.  They were small and few in number but, by Jove, they could tie any Hair into a knot!  It was decided – it was time to pay Hairington a visit. 

This is from the Knotsvillian’s point of view.  The Hairs of Hairington have their own ideas about how to live and definitely feel the Knotsvillians are too tightly plaited for their own good.  The great thing about this book is that the Hairs and the Knots are exactly the same creatures.  They share the same looks and same feel, but have different beliefs.  Of course we have a special character, namely LeBrush, who is called upon to marshal the fight between these two factions.  He doesn’t want the job; in fact it is only through the influence of little Babylock that he finally decides to step in and stop the fighting.  Doesn’t this sound familiar with the world at the moment?

If you want a little story that packs a big punch and is written in a way that will be enjoyed by both children and adults, give it a try.  As I’ve mentioned before, it is available as an ebook and will soon be available as a paperback with some awesome illustrations. If you would like a copy, click on the cover pic and it will take you straight to its Amazon page.

Okay, sale pitch over, let’s move to the sofa and catch up on Crimial Minds.  Coffee is ready and the cake is just begging to be eaten!