Published:
10:00 a.m. November 8, 2020
Updated:
7:13 PM December 14, 2020
Losing his livelihood as a singer and art teacher overnight to the coronavirus crisis has given Michael Ford the opportunity to revive a decade-old idea for a children’s book – which is now being launched.
Michael Ford’s book has just been published.
– Credit: Archant
Michael, 49, from Somersham, says he’s spent the time since lockdown ‘hammering’ to get the rhyming verse and illustrations for his book ‘Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh! My sister is a lizard! completed,
The idea for the book came 10 years ago and is based on the lives of his then two young daughters, but work and family put the project on the back burner until Covid hit.
Michael said: “Ten years ago I had the bone of the idea, but family life, two jobs, looking after in-laws and we also save animals. bothered.
“My main job as a singer all but disappeared overnight in March and my art tutoring job soon after due to Covid, so I took the opportunity to work on a book for young children that I had started to develop a few years earlier.”
An illustration of Michael’s book, which he wrote in confinement.
– Credit: Archant
Michael said: ‘I’ve spent every day of lockdown writing and illustrating and I’m now in a position where I’ve published myself and the book is launched now. I’m really excited.”
He explained that the book, aimed at children aged three to eight, tells the story of two sisters who accidentally trigger a spell that turns the eldest into a lizard, sending the younger on a quest where she encounters strange creatures in a magical land and must find unusual ingredients to bring back his sister.
Michael said: “It’s full of adventure, magic and a twist at the end. I am really happy that it has received great feedback from test readings and believe it is important now, more than ever, to provide a means of escape for children and a place for their imaginations to run wild. express freely.
Information about the book, which has just been released, is available at www.mysistersalizard.co.uk.
Did you realize an ambition or do anything unusual after spending more time in confinement? Contact The Hunts Post at: news@huntspost.co.uk.