|
Tangutica Books home books the authors  |
 |
The Authors Ruth and Diana live in Cumbria in the UK, and have been friends for years, ever since their daughters went to school together. Here is the story of how they came to write their first book! During a visit to her daughter's house in Scotland, Ruth was reading to her granddaughter Polly, and was finding the books quite boring to read. Then, one winter evening, at home in Pooley Bridge, she was looking out of the window watching the birds and she suddenly felt inspired to write about them. She wrote a letter to Polly, telling her what was happening in the garden with all the ducks, swans, cats and other animals. She felt sure that Polly would find this more interesting than reading a lot of her other books. Over the next few weeks, when the days were dark, every time Ruth had a spare moment on her own, she wrote a bit more. When the letter was finished, she went for cofffee with Diana and asked her to read it. Diana loved it and thought it should be published. She told Ruth, 'A book for small children has to have pictures.' Ruth said, 'Well, you can do that!'. So she did. Diana also added some fairies in the pictures, for children to find. At last, the book was ready, so they sent it to Reeds Printers in Penrith. Ruth and Diana were delighted with the results! Local shops were very encouraging, and the book has sold consistently ever since. Ruth and Diana thought it might be a good idea to write another book. But what could the next one be about? Ruth said 'Let's write a book about fairies.' Even thought the fairies are never mentioned, Polly loved finding them in 'Granny's Garden Friends'. The Big House where the children lived was based on the house that Diana was living in at the time. The back fence was covered in Russian vine and Clematis tangutica, so Ruth thought that the fairies' castle should be surrounded by Clematis Tangutica, and the idea of calling the fairies 'The Tangutica Fairies' followed on naturally from that. At times, with both of them working on it, the book seemed to write itself. Ruth thought of a good idea for a fairy happening and wrote it down and then Diana did the same, until the book (including the songs) was finished and ready to hand over to Reeds for them to work their magic! |
Click here to send us a message.
Website by Parsley Pot Designs
