Ashton author releases children's book

An author from Ashton has released her second children's book just in time for Christmas.

Rose Miller has been hard at work throughout 2020 writing and preparing the marketing for the follow-up to 2017’s ‘Alex and the Magic Dragon’.

In her new book ‘Sergeant Grog and the Night of the Weasels’ the titular character and his magical assistant find themselves on a thrilling adventure with Private Potter, Colonel Trumpington and the Fairy Force. 

It features fantastical settings and characters, all of which will interest the younger reader.

The inspiration came from her son, who was the basis for the character of Sergeant Grog. He spent more than 22 years in the army and was a successful sky and diving instructor. 

Rose said: “He had a lot of patience and a good sense of humour, just like Sergeant Grog.”

Lockdown has affected most of our lives and Rose was no different. She’d already finished the writing of the book before the pandemic hit, but the effects have meant that it’s been harder than ever to market the book. 

Before the coronavirus, Rose enjoyed signing copies of her first book at WH Smith stores in Stockport and the Trafford Centre, however all that has had to be paused. 

Rose said: “During lockdown all the book shops have had to close which means that, for the moment, most books can only be purchased online – through Amazon and book clubs – although some books are available in supermarkets. It’s a shame because I know that children love to browse through the book shops before buying a book.

“I used to enjoy listening to snatches of stories from Alex and His Magic Dragon, and they were always asking me questions about the dragon. 

“I’m hoping that things will get back to normal in the new year and the children will once again be able to browse through the books in the shops.”

In addition to the exciting story, the book features pictures by illustrator Michael Zarb, who has worked on famous cartoons such as Peppa Pig. 

Rose explained: “It must have been a lucky day for me when I rang an old friend of mine in Malta to have a chat about ‘Sergeant Grog’. 

“I was having a problem in finding a suitable illustrator to do the book cover for me as I was looking for something different from the usual front covers I’d seen in the book shops.

“I could see my characters in my mind’s eye and needed someone to put them on paper. 

“Then to my surprise my friend told me that her nephew was a successful illustrator living in Essex, and maybe he could help me if I rang him.

“That same day she was on the phone to him telling him about my plight, and he rang me back the following day. 

“I gave him an idea of how I wanted Sergeant Grog and all my other characters to look. He told me he was very busy working on Peppa Pig, but as I was a good friend of his aunt’s, he would do his best to help me, and help me he certainly did because he came up with some fantastic ‘Disney-type’ images that had me staring at them in shock! 

“I’d never seen anything like them in my life and nor had anyone else! They can all be seen inside the book. I think that must have been my luckiest phone call ever!”

With work on this title now completed, Rose is hard at work writing further adventures for Alex and His Magic Dragon.

Her new book is available on Amazon either in paperback or eBook format and other booksellers’ websites.