10:30am Tuesday 17th August 2010
By Rebecca Cain
A MATHS teacher who has long harboured a dream to become a fully published author has just released his first book.
John Burnell, 68, from Loudwater said: “I am still a 12-year-old at heart in a rather ancient body” which is why his first book is a children's novel.
The book called Toby Tallis and The Castle of Many Lands is a fantasy adventure story with hints of Arthurian legend.
Burnell, who has four children and nine grandchildren, said: “It is something I have always wanted to do.
“When I was at school I wrote a lot. I think I should have got on with that. But in those days you did what you were told. Parental pressures said you have got to have a science degree and you will always have a job.”
Burnell teaches Maths at The Wye Valley School in Bourne End and took early retirement 15 years ago to write more, but keeps being called back to teach.
He wrote two adult science fiction books previously but said they are not “page turners.”
Burnell said: “Luckily I have seem to have hit the fight format with this one. People's comments have been they can't put it down once they started it.
“I think it is for anyone who is young at heart.”
He self published the book and drew the cover and is for children 12 years and upwards- up to adults.
The story follows Toby Tallis and his younger sister when they find an enchanted castle on the beach, which is based on south Devon's Bigbury Bay.
Burnell says it mixes “myth and legend” and includes a witch, a miraculous cauldron, a dragon which Toby of course kills and there is quite a big battle scene at the end and not forgetting a wise old man.
The core of the story focuses on what happened to Merlin and the mystery that surrounds his death.
He said another aspect to the book is the idea that there is a parallel world to ours.
He said: “Just think of King Arthur. There no historical evidence of his existence yet there are the stories. What I am suggesting is there is a parallel world and all these things happen there but somehow they seep back into our world and become legend.”
The book is available online from www.amazon.co.uk and www.tesco.com or type Toby Tallis into a search engine. RRP is £7.99.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/trade_directory/