WESTBURY continues to show its creative side with the world as three different authors have had a book published.
Leslie Rocker, Andrew Field and Yanni Rust have each had a book published and each with a very different genres that includes a book to mark the 200th anniversary of a battle that proceeded Waterloo, a supernatural illustrated novel and a children’s story.
Children’s story
Leslie Rocker has turned to children’s stories for his latest book entitled ‘Mrs Downbelow’s Cat’.
Published under the pen name Les Imerson and available on Kindle via Amazon, ‘Mrs Downbelow’s Cat’ comprises a series of seven short stories involving two boys, Norman and his friend Lergen, who have vowed to fight the forces of evil whatever they are and wherever they might be.
Leslie said, “I have always felt the modern interest in the occult and the success of such books as Harry Potter to be disproportionate. For some years I have been playing with the idea of a series of what you might call anti-witch stories. This series is the result.
“I enjoyed the experience so much that I have written a longer novella for children, which I hope to publish in the New Year.
“My inspiration dates from my own childhood and, in particular, Tom and the Water Babies, Coral Island, Tom Sawyer and, of course, our greatest prose writer, Jonathan Swift.
“The process was not easier than writing books for adults, just the reverse. Whereas in a novel for adults I could allow myself to give full rein to whatever I might have in the way of sophistication and literary complexity, with children’s stories I was constantly having to remind myself of my readership. This did not mean that in any way I wrote down for them, merely that if there was a more straightforward way of expressing myself I used that. This was a useful discipline and perhaps contributed something to my wider writing style.”
Leslie has been a writer of one kind or another all his life as a journalist, magazine editor, poet and playwright. He now lives in Warminster, having previously lived in Bratton and was a past member of Westbury Choral Society.
The cover and other illustrations for the book were designed by Paula McBride, a writer and illustrator of many children’s books published on Kindle.
Prelude to Waterloo
Andrew Field has published a new book to mark the 200th anniversary of the critical battle that preceded Waterloo.
‘Prelude to Waterloo: Quatre Bras’ is an in-depth study of the Battle of Quatre Bras. Based on French primary sources that have never been published in English before, it questions previous assumptions and viewpoints.
Andrew is a former British army officer whose travels around the world have given him a unique opportunity to explore battlefields from ancient to present times.
He said, “I have always had a great interest in military history, perhaps unsurprising for a soldier! My main interest is in the Napoleonic Wars and it is this that prompted my decision to go into print!
“My first book was on the little known battle of Talavera that was fought in Spain during the Peninsular War in 1809; it was published in 2006.
“My second book was published in 2012, and is called ‘Waterloo, the French Perspective’. As the title suggests, it looks at that famous battle from the French viewpoint and includes many French first hand accounts of the battle. It has sold well and is well reviewed. I collected all the original sources myself and have a very large library; perhaps 500 books! I have visited Waterloo a number of times and guided groups around the battlefield. I plan to do the same next year, which is the two hundredth anniversary.
“My third and most recent book is on the battle of Quatre Bras (Prelude to Waterloo, Quatre Bras, the French Perspective) which was fought two days before Waterloo. Although it had a huge impact on the outcome of the great battle, it is somewhat overshadowed by it. This book attempts to build on the success of its predecessor. Although there is a wide interest in Waterloo, my other two books are more likely to appeal to those who already have an interest in the period.
“I formally retired from the army last year after over 36 years of regular service. However, I am now working full time for the army in Warminster in a reserve post. I have served all round the world, but my last job was at the Army Officer Selection Board (perhaps better known locally as RCB). I chose this as a last posting as I had decided to settle in this area having served in Warminster a number of times during my career and loving the area.
“Earlier in the year I was invited to join the Westbury Town Council World War 1 working group, helping to plan and organise the events to mark the centenary of that war.
“My books are a labour of love; my publishers always reminded me that writing history is not a way to get rich! That does not stop me planning my next title for which my research is already under way!”
Supernatural novel
Author and illustrator, Yanni Rust, has published her first book, a supernatural illustrated novel, with all funds raised going to Children in Need.
‘The Dawning’ has been published under the pen name L J Grainger.
Yanni said, “The Dawning is an illustrated novel which is aimed at young adults, though I know a lot of middle aged and elderly who thoroughly enjoyed it!
“You rarely see an illustrated novel that is not for children, so I wanted to do something different as grown-ups like looking at pictures too. All funds raised are going to Children in Need, so hopefully we can raise some money for the kids.
“The inspiration for ‘The Dawning’ came to me in a dream. Usually I forget my dreams within a few hours, but this one stayed with me for days, and I had to write it down to get it out of my system. Soon after that, more dreams followed and linked in with previous ones. Before I knew it I was writing a book!
“In a nutshell, the book is full of sarcasm, knowledge, wit and it touches on issues that I think a lot of people can relate to.”
The story follows open-hearted Emily who is content with her quiet, uneventful life in an English town. However, life changes dramatically one night when Emily is murdered.
Before she is killed, Emily overhears a terror plot. She is befriended by Jake, who has abilities to focus on the supernatural and help spirits find their purpose. He introduces Emily to Riley, a dark angel, and together they team up to stop the terror plot.
‘The Dawning’ is a supernatural meets mythology story, so anything from witches, centaurs, demons, Greek gods, faeries and werewolves will be found in Emily Hart’s world.
Yanni, who has previously illustrated the covers for Westbury author R.J Truman’s book series The White Light Chronicles, has already started a sequel to ‘The Dawning’.
The book is available on Amazon in non-illustrated and illustrated form, or by contacting Yanni directly through The Dawning’s Facebook page, or Twitter @Pictured_Dreams
