2025-10-21

Creative Writing Super Stars ✨

Arthur John, a loyal member of the Monday afternoon Creative Writing Workshop, is putting the finishing touches to the first of his series of books for children all based around the adventures of young 'Choclat Eclair'. The stories are based on those Arthur told his two daughters as bedtime tales many years ago, but he only started writing a couple of years ago - in his late eighties - and once his manuscript was finished he teamed up with Mary Bland, one of our gifted art students, who is illustrating the books. Mary and Arthur are a genuine dream team, often to be found in the guild cafe poring over the project, and we are so excited to see it unfold! 

Arthur cares devotedly for his wife as well as working on this project, and working on the stories has been a wonderful experience for him, giving him 'me time' and a chance to make friends locally after they moved to the area to be near family recently. Mary is a retired teacher, and loves to write and illustrate her own children's books too. When she is finished with Arthur's project, she will be refining her own picture story about 'a little bear who won't go to bed!' for younger readers. 

We are so happy that both Arthur and Mary  can put their obvious talents to such fantastic use... we are proud of you!