Westfield author and mixed media illustrator, Jaxy Williams, will be holding a special signing of her imaginative children’s adventure book on Saturday, 27th January. The book, Growing Grey Hares, was published just before Christmas, on 12th December, and is full of her beautiful illustrations.

Jaxy explains: “My career working with children spans more than twenty years, having started out as a child minder, and then becoming a qualified teacher of English. However, my passion for writing began when I was very young; I still have a story I wrote and illustrated when I was ten. I now use my stories and poetry in my teaching.

“I wrote my first lengthy story at the age of fourteen, while learning to touch type (I still have the original manuscript in the loft, 34 years later!) I love the smell and feel of real books, rather than digital e-books.

“I’ve also written and sold miniature stories, including one which went to the States for auction at the Miniature Book Society Conclave.

“Growing Grey Hares began its creation while battling severe stress and anxiety. I drew an enormous hare on my bedroom wall not long after seeing my first wild hare running across a field in torrential rain in Salisbury. It was a magical moment, especially as it was also an unexpected moment. Had I been a minute later, I would have missed it.

“During this time of exploring nature and the outdoors with my camera, I resumed writing poetry and received a lovely letter from Kensington Palace’s Prince William, Prince Harry and HRH, The Duchess of Cambridge, regarding a poem I wrote last year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the loss of Diana, Princess of Wales.

“The illustrated story, Growing Grey Hares explores the way children deal with loss and their resourcefulness at helping others find what they are missing. Loss doesn’t necessarily mean bereavement, but can refer to things that are no longer in sight. Many children see and accept things for what they are: the good in people; trusting unconditionally and believing what they are told. It’s only later, when they are older, that they begin to question or seek the truth.

“Sometimes, the very thing that’s lost is right in front of your nose (even though you may look everywhere else first), and you often realise how important what you have lost is, when you no longer have it.”

Jaxy’s story takes inspiration from nature around her, with the illustrations in a variety of mediums and styles. It particularly draws on shapes we can see in the clouds – something one or two of us may have partaken in at some point!

Everyone is welcome to come along to the Bookbarn, Hallatrow this Saturday at 2.30 p.m. to hear more about the book. Children are especially welcome.

Jaxy also runs a Creative Writing Group at the Bookbarn’s Full Stop Café every Monday from 10 a.m. – 12 noon, where everyone is welcome. On 1st February, she will also be celebrating the launch of poetry anthology, Unlocked, by the Frome Writers’ Collective, which includes some of her work, and will be held at Black Swan Arts, Frome.

Jaxy is currently working on literacy aids and her next book, and last year, she published her own poetry anthology, called Coffee Cats, which included illustrations painted in coffee and poems written in local cafés.