Author’s paws for thought

A father and technical developer for the NHS has commemorated a much-loved pet through the power of story telling.

Jacek Pawlowski works with code at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, but since becoming a dad, has found a love for writing children’s books.

Released last week, Troyski and the Pie-Rats is the second in the series.

The tale follows the adventure of Troy the ginger cat, a character based on the Pawlowski family’s much-adored feline friend, nicknamed Troyski, who passed away four years ago.

Children are able to embark on an adventure with Troy, who explores the world with his best friend and companion. The book follows on from Jacek’s first story, The Epic Voyage of Sir Benjamin Sweet.

The 43-year-old from Walderslade said:”After the release of my first book, kids across the schools I visited were fascinated by Troyski, Sir Benjamin Sweet’s companion.

“I added Troy into the first book for my eight-year-old daughter, Audrey. She misses him dearly, and adding him into the story as Sir Benjamin Sweet’s companion was a way for her to remember him.

“We had Troy for 14 years. He was a lovely ginger cat, and passed when Audrey was only five.

“I wrote him into the first book as a secondary character, but Troyski became so popular that the children wanted to see the story from his point of view.” Jacek mostly writes for pleasure, as a hobby, but has now released two story books and two colouring books about Sir Benjamin Sweet and Troyski, which are available on Amazon. In Troyski and the Pie-Rats, the ginger cat is disturbed from his nap and tricks Benjamin into leaving home where Troy finds himself boarding a sailboat bound for adventure.

Out at sea, Troy meets three rats who convince him they have been cursed and must be helped.

Troy’s travels take him to Marrakech, meeting mythical creatures and enduring trials.

Troy will stop at nothing to help his new friends in their struggles.

The ginger cat discovers the true value of friendship as well as the taste for more adventure. The book has plenty of colourful pictures and rhymes.

Jacek said: “Due to the lockdown I finally had time to sit down and finish the new book, along with persistence from my daughter. I’m really happy with the finished result.

“Depending on the success of this book, I am thinking of creating a series following Troyski’s adventures in the future.”