Author: my word (s)

Myths and Magic by Esther Moonstomp

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Today, I’m welcoming Esther on her blog tour. Congratulations on her second book in this series. I’ll hand over to Esther to tell you more.

My enormous thanks goes out to Liz for being part of the blog tour for my second children’s book, Myths and Magic. I’m now on stop three.  

So, what’s it all about? My main character is Saffy, and she found a magical dragon at the bottom of her garden. The dragon is called Lily and she and her world are in danger. In The Secret Dragon, the first book in the Saffy’s Secret Quest Series, the pair discovered they had a series of clues to uncover and solve in order to restore Lily and her magical world to their magnificent selves. 

Book two is due out on the 28th May but the paperback is available now to pre-order. The series is for 5-7 year olds, so it’s ideal for parents to read to children or for those that have just started to read on their own. It’ll make a great gift for any young children you know!

The Blurb:

Saffy has solved the first clue in her quest to save the magical world of Mandoreum from danger. Now it’s time to find the second. 

She isn’t alone. Her new friend, Lily, a dragon from Mandoreum, wants to help. Together they take a trip and uncover special stories and unexpected surprises.

But Saffy soon learns that first appearances are not always what they seem. And plotting in the background is a witch who will do everything she can to stop them…

Extract:

Knights with silver swords towered above her, while kings and queens stood royally. Fairies fluttered from one corner of the room to another and cute creatures scampered amongst thick green grass. She was sure Lily would be sneaking a look, taking it all in. 

A roar echoed through the room.  

Saffy shuddered, afraid. Could it be one of Narla’s workers? Lily had explained that Narla had workers who would try and stop them – and those workers could be in any form. Saffy had already fought off witches’ hats when they discovered the first clue. Was this the next one? 

“Aaah,” Lily yelped. “An ogre!”

Saffy caught sight of a huge, menacing ogre looming over them.

Author bio:

Esther has been a freelance writer for over twenty-five years, regularly writing articles and short stories for magazines and newspapers. 

Winner of several competitions, including those run by Writing Magazine and The Global Short Story Contest, she has also had the privilege of judging writing competitions and relished being given the role of head judge of the Writers’ Forum monthly short story competition. 

Esther loves writing but equally enjoys helping others, which she achieves in her role as a tutor for The Writers Bureau.Always on the lookout for a new challenge, she is taking the distance learning college over at the end of July.

She has had two how-to books on writing published, with a third due out later this year, as well as two collections of short stories. Her second children’s book is coming out in May, where she writes under the name of Esther Moonstomp.

Blogs: https://estherchilton.co.uk

https://esthermoonstomp.co.uk

Buying links:

UK: Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Myths-Magic-Saffys-Secret-Quest/dp/1806342103

Ebook: details to be released soon.

US: details to be released soon. 

Sum up Sunday

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Bluebells nod in wistful breeze

I carry home their scent

Their memory eases me

Through my week.

Beautiful bluebells

Can you sum up your week in 25 words or less? I’d love to hear from you.

Flaunt it Friday

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I’ve got bookmarks. I ordered them to give out at events promoting my debut middle grade children’s book, The Clocker. They arrived on Tuesday and I’m so excited. I think they look fantastic and I hope children and adults will enjoy them.

Have you done something, however big or small, worth shouting out about this week. I’d love to hear from you.

My bookmarks, front and back

Wordy Wednesday

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It’s Wordy Wednesday again and I have a Dutch word for you today. Last week I went to Bruges for five days, also hopping over the border to Sluis in The Netherlands. While perusing the menu in the windmill restaurant, a word caught my attention.

Slagroom?

I guessed this menu option was something sweet, knowing what a madeleine is; also guessing ‘met een’ was likely to be ‘with’. But what did ‘slagroom’ mean? This is what I find so fascinating about words and language. On looking it up, I was right about the madeleines and with; the sentence translated into English means “madeleines with a dollop of whipped cream”. Slagroom means cream in English. It is, of course, not pronounced slag room, more slaackroam.

What a great word. Do you have an unusual, quirky or favourite word to share? I’d love to hear from you.

Cream!

Sum up Sunday

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Here’s my Sunday sum up. What have you been doing this week? Share in 25 words or less.

Sluis – Netherlands

Bruges, Ghent, Sluis, Ostend

Colourful, vibrant and warm

Unexpected in all the best ways

Fresh fish, shrimp croquettes and frites

Little Easter eggs with tea.

Tea comes with little cakes, biscuits or Easter eggs

Flaunt it Friday

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I’m feeling jolly pleased with myself this week. We hadn’t been abroad since 2017 when we went to Florence for the 25th wedding anniversary of my partner’s cousin. Travelling abroad had become difficult and stressful, Brexit notwithstanding. (Apologies for using the B word!) Insurance for two people with existing medical conditions is outrageous, and waiting for ‘assisted travel’ at airports somewhat like being in a holding pen with no idea when you’ll escape.

We decided to take our holidays in the UK, covering the South West of England to The Highlands of Scotland. We’ve had some amazing times with no regrets but, having had some challenging times in 2025, we decided to try a coach holiday to Belgium; a place we’d never been.

It’s been wonderful, such a beautiful country. Bruges is vibrant and pretty. We also visited Ghent, Ostend and hopped over the border to Sluis in The Netherlands, which was a delight. We’d settled on a five-day break to see how it went and it all went well. So … where next?

Beautiful Bruges

Wordy Wednesday

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I really enjoy reading a book series and have especially liked the gentle flow of Harriet Steel’s Inspector de Silva stories. Set in Sri Lanka in the 1930s, and in the imaginary town of Nuala, Inspector de Silva (often with his wife, Jane’s, help) solves the many murders and mysteries.

It was exciting to discover a new book in the series: A Curse in Nuala. I was happily reading when I came upon a word that was new to me. In describing a room, we’re told; “the colour was echoed in the drugget carpet …”

I quickly looked up ‘drugget’ and discovered that it’s a word from the 16th century. It comes from the French, ‘droguet’ meaning poor quality article.

To discover the wonderful book series visit https://harrietsteel.comhttps://harrietsteel.com

Do you enjoy reading books in a series? What’s your favourite?

Sum up Sunday

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Bench made from old skateboards

Quirky Nottingham skateboard bench,

Dummy run to check coach stop,

Brain tangle from new challenges,

Rested by volunteer shifts.

Can you sum up your week in 25 words or less?

Does anyone else do ‘dummy runs‘?

Flaunt it Friday

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What are you pleased with yourself about this week?

I’ve been working through a long list of tasks in advance of my middle-grade children’s book, The Clocker, being published on 28th April 2026. I’ve approved the ebook, ordered some bookmarks, updated my website, had various conversations in relation to promoting the book … The list goes on.

It can be hard to do things you haven’t done before, as well as remind yourself of things you’ve not done for a while. I’m plodding on, taking it step by step and getting there.

You can pre-order my book and see more at:

https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/middle-grade/the-clocker

Ticking things off my list is very satisfying

Wordy Wednesday

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I came across the word ‘bimble’ in an Instagram post from sconepalnatalie and was keen to find out more about its meaning and origin.

Its meaning is to walk or stroll at a leisurely pace, possibly coming from the word, ‘bumble’. I love the idea of going for a morning bimble along the beach or through the park. That’s my kind of pace.

Please share any words you’ve come across; I’d love to hear from you in the comments box.

I’m off for my morning bimble through the park