Writers' News - Ripping yarn

Ripping yarn

Liverpool children’s author, Alec Sillifant, who started out with humourous picture books for little ones, has a new book out for slightly older children.

Danny Templar and the Pyramid Puzzle (£3.99) is for the ‘kinda Horrid Henry age range’ says Alec, (around seven and up, for those who haven’t yet had the pleasure).

It is a comedy adventure romp, ‘perhaps a Comrom?’ he suggests, about a boy, Danny, and The Baron, ‘an upper class twit who is an agent for a rather dodgily supplied secret service’.

‘In this adventure – I have hopes for a follow-up even if the publisher isn't sure... yet, but I have my ways – they team up after a video game “introduces” them and they have to retrieve an ancient Egyptian diamond before the bad guy can get to it and enslave the world. “Think big” my Dad always said to me.’

The publishers are Meadowside again, although Alec admits he is still collecting a healthy bundle of rejections from other publishers who ‘know no better’.

Why did he write it? ‘That's a toughie... because it is most important that my words are read and heeded before it is too late for all of us?’ he laughs. ‘I dunno, it was fun I suppose and I thought there may be some legs in a series. You're asking me to get all authorly and such and I just see myself as someone who can write a yarn that hopefully brings a smile to some faces.’

In the meantime Alec is still waiting to make enough from his books to purchase a small island in the South Seas.

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