The Snowman and the Swallow - a tale of two friends

“My favourite children’s story ever is The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde,” the Felpham author says.

“The Happy Prince is about a beautiful statue of a prince that sees all this poverty around him and wants to give his gold, rubies and emeralds to the poorer people because he knows he can help by giving.

“A swallow befriends him and stays with him even though he knows he has to leave to fly to warmer climates.

“My story is of a snowman who is built and befriends a swallow, who decides to stay with him so he doesn’t get lonely.”

At its heart The Snowman and the Swallow is a tale of friendship.

The story, Lucy says, had been sat in a notebook for about ten years before she did anything with it, and it is aimed at four to 11 year-olds.

“I think on a very basic level with young children they can completely understand the story and with older children you can explore vocabulary and the idea of friendship and what that means,” she explains.

This is Lucy’s second publication, her first was an activity book for children aged six to 12 years old.

The Snowman and the Swallow was illustrated by Tammy Brown.

“It took a few takes to figure out what was in my head and translate that on to paper but once we found that, it was really a very lovely working relationship,” she says.

Lucy has been a teacher for 16 years. She says even as a little girl it is a career she has always wanted to do.

“I used to play schools with my teddies and dolls,” she smiles. “I have always been quite bossy.

“I had jobs as a nanny and selling advertising space for Spirit FM before I trained to be a teacher.

“I think everyone thinks that you’re going to be the next J. K. Rowling but the reality is that when you make pennies on each book I think I’ll be teaching for a while yet.”

Writing alongside teaching Lucy has more books up her sleeve.

“I have hundreds of ideas and a few stories sat waiting to go,” she reveals.

“But my real dream is to write a middle grade book for 10 to 12-year-olds.

“I just need to find some time.”

You can find The Snowman and the Swallow on Amazon.