Fort author debuts new book in home town
A couple of blokes prancing about in bright pink tutus, one sporting a kitchen colander on his head while the other donned a tartan viking helmet, is not the usual image that springs to mind when you hear about a new book launch.
But Fort William children’s author Barry Hutchison is not your usual writer and Little Door Books is far from being your run-of-the-mill publisher.
The two have joined forces for the publication of Barry’s first picture book for children, entitled Magna Cow, and Monday’s launch at the Highland Bookshop in Fort William took place in front of a lively audience of local primary school youngsters.
Pupils from Lundavra Primary School enjoyed a morning of readings and interactive songs from Barry and Little Door Books’ Alan Windram.
Fort William born and bred, Barry wrote his first novel aged 12 and saw a screenplay – penned when he was just 17 – optioned by an American company.
Since then he has written everything from magazine articles to radio plays, but says it was only when his own first child began to read that he turned his pen to books for younger readers.
The fact Barry needed no persuasion to join in with Monday’s musical theatrics to launch his book comes as no surprise when you learn he is passionate about encouraging children, especially more reluctant boys, to read.
It was that desire which led to him getting involved in the founding of the website Trapped By Monsters, designed to share great stories and get children involved in reading and writing.
On his latest book and the collaboration with Little Door Books, Barry told the Lochaber Times: ‘This is my first picture book for children, although I have been writing for older children for 10 years.
‘It’s been really great work- ing with Alan and his wife Susan at Little Door Books as they’ve really helped this joint creative effort come alive.’
Barry met Alan – a published children’s author in his own right who also has a wealth of experience in knowing what children like from years on the musical theatre circuit – at the Borders Book Festival.
‘We developed this idea and I think it’s worked really well,’ said Barry, who happily admits using his own children ‘test subjects’ for his writing.
‘If I write something, I’ll read it to them and the minute I detect them starting to drift off and lose interest is the point I know I need to look at doing that part differently.’
Magna Cow is beautifully illustrated by publishing star Cate James.
Little Door Books was partly set up to encourage new writers and illustrators and, as Alan explained, Little Door Books is keen to give such talent more of a creative free hand.
‘The concept of a magnetic cow that glows in the dark and no one knows why appealed to us,’ said Alan, who composes music and lyrics to accompany each new Little Door Books publication.