A WAYWARD seven-year-old adopted by her daughter Eleanor has inspired renowned Redditch author Anne Bradford to pen a new book of ghost stories – just in time for Halloween.
Jamie’s Favourite Ghost Stories – ‘for children and big boys’ – is beautifully illustrated by local artist Mark Pettifer, who gave his services for free, and all profits will go to Adoption UK.
Anne said the inspiration for the book came after Eleanor, who works for the BBC in Glasgow, and her husband Ross decided to adopt two boys from the notorious Gorbals area of the city. Then aged seven and four, Eleanor told her mum that the eldest, Jamie, ‘didn’t look very lovable, but was’.
Not only that but Jamie, now aged nine, couldn’t read, so Anne set about introducing him to the world of books and the idea of the ghost stories was born.
“At first, trying to get him to read was difficult, it was as if you were asking him to jump into the canal fully clothed,” said Anne. “However, I persevered and thought, if he sees his name in print actually on a book it might encourage him.
“All the stories in the book are his favourites and he’s written a foreward for some of them, and to complement them there are Mark’s illustrations, which are lovely,” added Anne.
The book, which costs £5, is available from ASAP printers in Headless Cross and Crabbs Cross post office.
It will also be on sale in the Pop Up gallery in the Kingfisher Centre from November 5-15 and at Forge Mill Museum until November 22.
