The one question writers are invariably asked is, “Where do you get your ideas from?”
As a schoolboy poet, Dylan Thomases might have replied (according to recently unearthed information), “From other poets!”
Lee Child, author of the best-selling Jack Reacher books might well say,“I see the terrible injustices going on in the world and allow Reacher to redress the balance a little by hitting seven bells out of bad guys!”
William Shakespeare wouldn’t answer . . . as he died in 1616.
I told you a while ago that local author Paul Leyshon had written his first children’s book “Joni Jones and the Ghost Train”.
It did so well that, despite being in demand as a TV producer and director, Paul found time to write a second book, entitled “Joni Jones and the Ghosts Of Gower”.
Paul obviously has a talent for writing spooky stories for children.
The first Joni Jones adventure was set in the mythical village of Nant-y-Glo, which Paul places somewhere on the old Beeching line between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth.
Paul was inspired after looking at old calendars of Loughor and Gorseinon that showed where the railway line had once been.
This, and the fact his mother had lived on Railway Terrace, fired his imagination and led to him writing his first book.
Railway Terrace isn’t there today, but Paul has old photographs of his mother and uncle on Railway Terrace.
He’s open to sharing these and wonders if any of my readers have old photographs of streets or roads that no longer exist?
When he teaches fantasy storytelling in schools (free of charge), children ask when he’s going to write another book.
Well now he has and “Joni Jones & The Ghosts Of Gower” is out now, published by Leyshon Publishing.
Paul hopes to be doing readings on February 28 and March 1 in the ‘Culture’ marquee for Croeso, Swansea’s annual St. David’s Day festival.
One of the many TV productions Paul has worked on is “Location, Location, Location”.
If he keeps bringing out new books, it’s quite possible that being an author is his true “Vocation, Vocation, Vocation”!