CAPTIVATED by the beautiful image of a magpie drawn by her longtime friend and illustrator Jules Faber, local author Robyn McLennan brewed a children’s story that she penned to paper, now published as ‘Guess What Happened in Paddington Park…’.

A resident of Marian Grove in Toormina, Robyn, at 81, is full of beans having her fifth book produced and already stocked in The Book Warehouse Coffs Harbour.

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“The story is a tale about a loveable Magpie called Maynard who lives with his friends in Paddington Park,” Robyn told News Of The Area.

“He also has a very special friend called Harriet McTavish.

“This is the fifth book that Jules and I have worked on.”

The previous books were a trilogy about The Clunkertons of Sunnybank Creek, published in 2011 and 2013, and ‘It’s All About Mary…’, published in 2015.

Until moving to Sydney a few years ago, Jules was a local identity in Coffs Harbour as a successful cartoonist and illustrator.

Among other projects, he has illustrated Anh Do’s ‘Weirdo’ books for children.

Writing this new story was brought about by Jules’ interest in drawing birds.

“In February this year he sent me a beautiful drawing of a magpie,” said Robyn.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off it, it was just brilliant and so very, very good.

“It didn’t take me long after continually staring at the drawing each day that a story began to emerge, and I sent it to Jules to get his opinion.”

A few drafts later and having to cut the story right down, they began another journey which took about five months to complete.

“Emailing backwards and forwards was most interesting, particularly as I am not very competent on the computer but my son, thankfully, was always there to assist with my computer woes,” she said.

“The whole project evolved into a real team effort between four of us; my son and I, Jules and his daughter.

“Jules did the illustrations, design and layout of the book and his daughter did the colours.

“Both the illustrations and colours are outstanding, and the story brilliantly brought to life by Jules.”

Friends have said it is a pleasure to read out loud to the age four-plus audience it is aimed at.

The book is available at The Book Warehouse, Coffs Harbour as well as Coffs’ Botanic Gardens for $15, and the proceeds will be going to a local charity here in Coffs Harbour.

On Sunday 26 November, The Link, Hogbin Drive will be holding its Christmas Market and Robyn hopes to be there with her books, from 9:30am to 3pm.

By Andrea FERRARI