Kids embark on magical journey
At the golden age of 81, former Exeter News and Photographic Service reporter Fay Knowles (nee Johanson) has announced the launch of her first children’s book - “Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”!
Action packed and heart-warming, Fay says children will love and learn from this fun adventure story of family togetherness, simplicity and resilience!
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure”, a fully illustrated chapter book, tells of two young Bahamian boys, who are thrilled when their parents decide to take them to remote Coco Plum Island, to surprise their grandparents for Easter. But they have difficulties getting a flight and then a storm threatens to spoil all of their plans. They eventually reach the island, but their troubles aren’t over as they must land at an airport further away from the grandparents. The journey south is hazardous and they run into problems on the way. They wonder if they will ever get to their grandparents’ house!
Beautifully brought to life in full colour by illustrator Hatice Bayramoglu, every scene in the book vividly captures the story's essence and magic.
Island Surprise is primarily suitable for ages 5 to 10, but it may also be enjoyed by younger or older readers who are captivated by imaginative stories.
Fay, who has lived in The Bahamas for several decades, says she has been passionate about writing almost her entire life. “I was born in Scotland, but mostly brought up in England where I started writing at age nine.”
After leaving school at the age of sixteen, she had wanted to move from Exeter to London to train as a reporter “from the bottom up”, as the local newspapers didn’t hire young women as fledgling reporters in those days, but her mother wouldn’t hear of it. “Instead, Mum encouraged me to take a one year secretarial and business course at Exeter College and told me I could always use my shorthand and typing as a writer. And she was right!”
Fay completed that course successfully and then one year later had the opportunity to work and train as a reporter at the former Exeter News & Photographic Service on Sidwell Street.
“I attended day release classes in Journalism at Exeter College along with the same boys I hadn’t been able to work with at one of the local newspapers!”
This isn’t Fay’s first venture into children's literature!
“I wrote an adventure story book at age eleven, which I plan to resurrect, along with a more recent tale about a mischievous parrot!” she said.
Up to now, Fay’s publishing successes have been adult fiction and non-fiction, but she says: “I've always enjoyed writing little stories for children, ever since I made them up for my cousins when I was a child! And I used to create children’s mini plays at family or friends’ get togethers when our sons were young.”
As a published author, Fay has two collections of short stories, two mystery romance novels, a writer's guide and a Scottish memoir available on Amazon and at other online retailers.
“Island Surprise: A Bahamian Adventure” is available in paperback, hardcover and as an e-book on Amazon at https://mybook.to/ISLANDSURPRISE
