Smorgasbord Bookshelf 2022- Share an Extract from your latest book – #Childrens The Messenger Misadventures: The Dylan, Deirdre & Dougall collection (The Princelings of the East) by Jemima Pett

In this series you are invited to share an extract of 500 words from your most recent book published within the last 12 months. Details at the end of the post.

The aim of the series

1. To showcase your latest book and sell some more copies.
2. Gain more reviews for the book.
3. Promote a selection of your other books that are available.

Today’s author is Jemima Pett with an extract from her children’s book The Messenger Misadventures: The Dylan, Deirdre & Dougall collection (The Princelings of the East)

About the book

In north-west Mull, three guinea pig friends live in a remote castle. Tale no.1: Dylan’s life is in danger when he discovers something brewing in the hillside. Tale 2: Deirdre uses her initiative to find Dylan when he is washed into the sea. Tale 3: Dougall gets into trouble when he makes friends with a reindeer. Tale 4: Dylan is tempted by some mysterious lights. Fantasy adventures for age 8+

An Extract from Messenger Misadventures

“Hi Dylan!”

“Hi Dee!”

Deirdre watched Dylan disappear down the track and jump over the Ensay Burn, spurning the stepping stones so carefully maintained by her father.

If only she could run all over the island, delivering messages for the Laird up at Castle Haunn. Despite his shaggy hair and impudent manner, Dylan always sent her into daydreams. If only he’d realise she could run fast, too. She’d make a great partner for his adventures.

Climbing around the countryside like Dylan would suit her much better than doing the chores around the house and cleaning up all the dirt in the workshop. Although it did look nice, the house and the workshop nestling under the hill, shaded by a windswept tree.

“Ah, there you are.”

Her father was waiting at the end of the barn, looking for her.

“You’ve time enough to run an errand for me, haven’t you? This package has to go down to the mill at Calgary Bay.”

Calgary Bay wasn’t far, but it was uphill all the way back. “I’ll try to get back in time to start supper,” she said, already turning towards the track.

“That’s my girl,” her father said, but he was back in his workshop before Deirdre rounded the corner.

Although Deirdre had been using the piles of stepping stones since she was old enough to walk, she still felt nervous approaching the Ensay Burn.

The stream was deep and narrow, rushing through a cleft in the hillside. The stepping stones were flat granite, settled on several other slabs of granite, all held together by a mixture of moss and sand. They didn’t often wobble, but heavy rain would loosen them, then they could wash away.

Since her father had to keep them safe, she had to trust them. If one pillar wobbled, she would tell him, though. If she hadn’t fallen off it and been swept away by the water.

The centre pillar wobbled a bit, but she was across it and safe.

When she was young, one of the boys had fallen in and drowned in the bay below. What might it be like to be swept out to sea? Would you meet mermaids before you died? Or maybe seals came and sang to you. Maybe you became a mermaid, or a selkie.

Dylan trotted over the hills from Sarlen without a care in the world. He’d given out all his messages. If he got back too early, he would get sent out with more. Being fast sometimes gave him more work than the others. That couldn’t be fair.

He loved the view from the top of the hill. To the west, the hillside sloped down to the sea loch. The isle of Ulva was in the south and the one they called the Dutchman’s Cap in the distance, along with its companions. Away on the horizon was the low line of Tiree, and the more bumpy Coll. It was a good few hours before the sun would set behind them.

Ahead he saw the last ridge before he started downhill towards home. He contoured around the highest point, started down the other side, and avoided the bog at the bottom of the hill by steering left towards the track.

Approaching the stepping stones over the Ensay Burn, he decided not to risk the full leap over them, and landed on the middle section.

It wobbled.

He wobbled.

He pushed off with his landing foot and there was nothing to push against.

The stones collapsed under him, and he lurched forward. He just missed catching hold of a solid tussock and instead grasped a few thin strands of grass. They uprooted. He slipped backwards, hitting his head on the rocky side of the little gorge, and fell into the water.

Barely conscious, Dylan curled himself into a ball, still clutching grass in one hand. The Ensay Burn sent him tumbling down the gorge, floating half in and half out of the water.

A review for the book

Chris Graham5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful easy to read short stories. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2021

Having read the Princelings of the East Series, it was a delight to read about the earlier adventures of Dylan, Dougall and Deirdre on their Scottish Island.
I wish there were more such tales to be had.  

Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK –  And: Amazon US

A selection of other books by Jemima Pett

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Blog:Jemima Pett – Goodreads:Jemima Pett – Twitter:@jemima_pett –

About Jemima Pett

When I discovered the words ‘portfolio career’ I realised I was trendsetter – having not only a number of different jobs, but in totally different fields. These included social work, business management, computer technology, environmental research. The thread running through all of them was communication – and that continued in my spare time with writing and editing club magazines, manuals, reports… I loved words, loved to learn and to apply my learning to the real world.

Eventually the world just wasn’t big enough, and so I went back to inventing my own, as I had as a child. First came the Realms, the setting for the ten-book Princelings of the East series. It’s a feudal England run by princes in castles who just happen to be guinea pigs – although you can read them as people equally well. Then came the Viridian System, a planetary area on the outskirts of known space where a frontier mentality mixes with big business and tourism.

I wrote some shorter stories featuring characters from the Princelings series, recently published as Messenger Misadventures. This features Dylan and Dougall, and their friend Deirdre, who unfortunately did not feature with them in Book 8 of the Princelings series. Two more characters that are asking for their own book are Roscoe and Neville, who turn up in book 10.

2021 saw the publication of five short story collections. Most of these originally appeared on my blog between 2012 and 2020, but are no longer there. Several new stories appear, especially in the seasonal special Snowflakes and Shivers. I still blog short stories, usually once a week.

The third and final Viridian System book is due for publication in Feb 22. There’s a snippet at the end of that which may lead to another scifi story, but not set in the Viridian System.

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. thanks Sally.

What will be in the post and how to get in touch

• • • I will top and tail in the usual way with your other books and links, bio, photo and social media.
    • I will also select a review from Amazon or Goodreads that I feel has the best selling pitch for the book.
    • If your book is very recent and as yet has not received a review then I will share one from a previous book.
      
    • This series is open to all authors both those on the Bookshelf or new to the blog
    • I suggest an extract of approximately 500 words or a poem that you feel best reflects the theme of your collection.
    • If you have an illustration or images you can attach to the email for me to include. No need to send the cover as I will have that or will access from Amazon.
    • If you have not featured on the blog before then I will need Amazon link, Goodreads, blog or website plus your social media links (main three you use)
    • Please send your extract and any accompanying images to sally.cronin@moyhill.com