The front cover illustration for JOSTLING WITH THE PEARS was drawn by Euan Dunn, whose cartoons for our WITHIN THE GLADE – Poems for Children (of all ages) by Patrick Moore, are already being hailed as little masterpieces.

JOSTLING WITH THE PEARS will be out shortly, at £7.50, in soft cover. If you wish to pre-order this, the third and final part of my Pear Tree Cottage trilogy at £6.50, UK post-free, let us know soon as the print run will be short.

This is because I have now had printed my CHRISTMAS PLAYS FOR CHILDREN!

These CHRISTMAS PLAYS were written for my own four children, when small; one a year, over a period of five years. They were performed in our Chelsea mansion flat, to entertain family, friends and neighbours – and they did! Quite undated (except perhaps that I am “Mummy”, not “Mum”!), they are short, simple plays, requiring no special scenery, and very few props, for children aged between five and thirteen, and they can equally easily be put on either at home or at school. The names can of course be changed to suit any cast.

In his detailed Introduction, David Holloway, a former, eminent literary editor of the DAILY TELEGRAPH, wrote: ‘…I am sure the plays will be of interest…, not so much for slavish reproduction but as a basis for an adaptation to fit any (group) of children who want to act.’

CHRISTMAS PLAYS FOR CHILDREN is now available, at £12.00, plus £2.00 towards postage, in soft cover, large (play script) format, spiral-bound, for easier copying. I hold the copyright but am allowing free copying from one bought book. This is an exciting project for children – at home or in school – to get involved in!

The Plays are only available from SMH (see HOW TO ORDER)

THE LUCKY ONES is a very special work – my best, to date. The eight 35-40-minute plays were truly inspired by the Eight Beatitudes (a set of great teachings given my Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount).'The word 'beatitude' comes from the Latin adjective meaning 'happy', 'fortunate'’ or 'blissful'.

Thee plays were originally conceived more than twenty years ago, but domestic commitments prevented me from writing them down. Now, after careful research and thought, editing and re-editing, they are ready for production.

Rather like 21st Century Morality Plays, THE LUCKY ONES are punchy, often amusing, not preachy, built round people who live in a rural community (resonant of my rural roots and the country life I lived for so many years, both as a child and as an adult.

If you would like to know about them, please let me know.

S.S.