By Sandra Piddock
During the Covid lockdowns, Catral resident Carolynn Barclay helped fill her days by writing a daily poem and sketching. Some of these poems were written with her young grandson, Lukas, in mind. They told the story of a spider called Octo and a gecko named Gertie who met in a Spanish bathroom and became firm friends, sharing various adventures along the way.
As Lukas grew older, the poems were shoved in a drawer and forgotten about, until on a recent visit to Spain he asked to hear them again. At the grand old age of Nearly Six, Carolynn worried that the poems might be a little too babyish for him, but if anything, he enjoyed them even more than when he first heard them as a three-year-old.
Naturally modest concerning her abilities, Carolynn wondered whether there was a bit of Granny Bias regarding the poems, but all of Lukas’s friends loved them too, and it was suggested they would make a great book for children, as some of the poems, such as the ones about going to the dentist and going to school, address concerns young children might struggle with.
All the poems celebrate friendship and fun, and show that there are no barriers if we open our hearts and show kindness. After all, spiders and geckos are hardly natural companions, yet Octo and Gertie develop a close relationship as they get to know one another.
Their adventures take them skiing, to the cinema, to the beach and on day trips where they meet various characters. Children are loving it, and Carolynn is thrilled to receive so many pictures of youngsters with the book.
Once Carolynn decided to turn the poems into a book, she imagined how Octo and Gertie might look and began to produce illustrations to accompany the poems. She’s also an artist, and has produced numerous pet and people portraits in charcoal for friends and clients, but she felt a different approach was needed for the book, given the projected age range was between 3 and 7 years old.
The result is charming, with engaging characters and colourful backdrops to draw in young readers.
Just a month after publication, Octo and Gertie is already well received, and in fact Lukas’s school in Scotland already has a copy, which his teacher read to the class. According to Lukas, ‘Everyone sat quiet and listened, apart from Angus. He had questions.’ That’s a good review in anyone’s book! (Pun intended).
Octo and Gertie was published in late January by Mirador Publishing, which prides itself on helping independent and debut authors produce and market their books. It’s available on Amazon, or WhatsApp Carolynn on 610 32 87 32 if you’d like a signed copy, or more information about the book.
Carolynn is now working on a book about more exotic animals, including a shortsighted giraffe who keeps banging her head in the trees and fashion conscious zebras who like to dress in striped pyjamas. Watch this space!
