Swooping in to save the day!

No matter how old you get, you need a good friend. Learning to stick together and lean on each other’s strengths is the dynamic duo in John Williams’ debut children’s book, Adventures with Raymond and Bonnie: The Deserted Cottage. Living in rural Billsborough County, a young robin called Raymond and his best friend Bonnie, a blue tit, get into all sorts of adventures. Raymond is plucky and brave. Actually, he can be foolhardy but he tries hard. Bonnie is a little younger than her friend but what she lacks in knowledge, she makes up for with common sense. Always right, she tends to be nosy and sometimes lacks concentration.

In The Deserted Cottage, we see the young pals waking with the firm intention of spending another day having fun. It’s mid-winter and they often visit nearby Fir Cottage where they can expect food and fresh water provided by nice old Mr Digweed. One snowy December day, Raymond and Bonnie meet up early and fly the short distance over to the cottage only to find it deserted and with no sign of food or water. Initially, they are just concerned about Mr Digweed’s health but, later that day, they discover that the forlorn-looking cottage has attracted the interest of two suspicious-looking strangers. Who are these intruders and what, exactly, do they want? How can two little birds help Mr Digweed and protect Fir Cottage? Where will they find help?

Unfortunately, there is also a threat to the birds’ habitat! It looks as though they might have to move away from the countryside that they love so much. Far from being fun, this turned out to be a very challenging day that the little feathered friends will never forget.

“As part of the first year of my recent history degree course, I was required by the university to study an ‘elective’ humanities subject for one semester,” explains John. “I chose ‘Writing for Children’ and, with no previous experience of this, I was tasked with authoring a short story at around 5,000 words. My tutor, himself a published author, liked my Raymond and Bonnie story and believed that there was scope to develop further stories involving this feathered pair. I was enthused by the experience and have since written another Raymond and Bonnie adventure.”

Ideal for ages seven to nine, this charming tale illustrated by Simon Goodway will have all young readers flocking around to hear what Raymond and Bonnie get up to next! n

Living in rural Billsborough County, a young robin called Raymond and his best friend Bonnie, a blue tit, get into all sorts of adventures but they stick together and lean on each other’s strengths.

In The Deserted Cottage, we see the young pals waking with the rm intention of spending another day having fun. It’s mid-winter and they o en visit nearby Fir Cottage where they can expect food and fresh water provided by nice old Mr Digweed. One snowy December day, Raymond and Bonnie meet up early and y the short distance over to the cottage only to nd it deserted and with no sign of food or water. Initially, they are just concerned about Mr Digweed’s health but, later that day, they discover that the forlorn-looking cottage has attracted the interest of two suspicious-looking strangers. Who are these intruders and what, exactly, do they want? How can two little birds help Mr Digweed and protect Fir Cottage? Where will they nd help?

Far from being fun, this turned out to be a very challenging day that the little feathered friends will never forget.

Available to order through all good retailers.

Paperback 9781803135304 | £7.99 https://johnwilliamsauthor.co.uk

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Adventures with Raymond and Bonnie – The Deserted Cottage is the first of a number of short stories written by John Willimans and illustrated in colour by Simon Goodway.

It is available to preview and order at: https:// johnwilliamsauthor.co.uk

As funeral directors in Llandudno, North Wales Chris Lord-Brown and Jonathen Harty have over fifty years of combined experience. Serving both local and neighbouring communities, their expertise and knowledge combined with their extensive contacts have led to numerous families entrusting them to arrange and conduct the funeral services of their loved ones.

Together they run Lord-Brown & Harty Ltd. This independent, privately owned and professionally qualified funeral directors and monumental masons is situated in the heart of Llandudno on the North Wales coast.

They are proud member of The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), undergo regular inspections of premises and paperwork to ensure compliance, and abide by the NAFD's Code of Practice.

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JONATHEN HARTY

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