Local Mum and children's author Karen Inglis has published a book that reluctant readers aged 7-10 can't get enough of.
While little girls are often more than happy to curl up with a good read, mums of boys sometimes find it harder to get their boys to grab a book.
Local Mum and children's author Karen Inglis has managed to achieve what many mums feel is impossible; she has written a book that gets even the most unlikely lads to love reading.
Karen's book Eeek! The runaway alien has been identified as a great book for boys and reluctant readers aged 7-10 in a list curated by Jullia Eccleshare of The Guardian on the LoveReading4Kids website.
Five-star rated on Amazon reviews, Eeek! The Runaway alien is a fast-paced story about an alien who runs away to Earth because he loves football and the World Cup is on!
Boys love Eeek!
Karen lives in Barnes, SW London, and spends part of her time writing for children and part of her time writing for business. "By far the best bit is writing for children," says Karen, "I just love making things up!"
Eeek! The Runaway alien was inspired by Karen's two boys – George and Nick. "When they were younger I found it hard to get them to read - something that other friends with sporty boys had problems with too," explains Karen. "That got me to thinking. Apart from sport, I decided that most boys like aliens so I thought I’d mix the two together!"
Eeek! The runaway alien tells the story of eleven-year-old Charlie Spruit who can’t believe his luck when he opens his door to an alien one morning. Who is he? Why has he come? Charlie soon discovers that this alien has run away from space to Earth to be with him because he’s football mad and the World Cup is on…!
‘Eeek,’ as Charlie decides to call him, takes up secret residence in Charlie’s bedroom where he sleeps on the ceiling by night and pores over Charlie’s football magazines and stickers by day.
All is going surprisingly well until slimy sci-fi mad Sid Spiker, who lives out the back, spots Eeek through his telescope. Sid has his own plans for this alien, which, when he puts them into practice, have consequences that no-one could have imagined…
For girls too
Karen's first children’s book, The Secret Lake, is aimed at girls and boys aged 8-11 years.
When Stella and her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour’s small dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through?
Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound – and a tunnel that takes them to a secret lake.
Who is the boy rowing towards them who looks so terrified? And whose are those children’s voices carried on the wind from beyond the woods?
Stella and Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home and its gardens almost 100 years earlier. Here they make both friends and enemies, and uncover startling connections between the past and present…
The Secret Lake is available to order from several branches of Waterstones in SW London, or you can ask your local bookshop to order it in from Gardners wholesalers. It is also available to order from Amazon.
For little ones
Karen is also working on her series for younger children The Adventures of Ferdinand Fox. "I’ve spent the last few months working with my illustrator to bring Ferdinand to life and we’re currently finalising the interior layouts," says Karen.
The first of Ferdinand Fox’s six rhyming stories – Ferdinand Fox’s Big Sleep – should be available before Christmas! Check back here for details!
On the websites for each book (www.thesecretlake.com and www.eeekthealien.com) children can leave reviews and Karen will reply to them. By leaving a review on Amazon you will help support Karen and spread the word!
Read Local Mums' reviews of Eeek! The runaway alien and The Secret Lake
Contact Karen
Email: kpinglis@wellsaid.co.uk
Follow Karen Inglis on Twitter