Peter Allchin: 10 books

Barnaby Rabbit lives in Orange Blossom Wood with his mother and best friends; Peter Partridge, Philipa Pheasant and Harry Hedgehog. In these stories for young children, Barnaby meets the Big Bad Badger, the Pesky Fox and Father Christmas.Barnaby, like a true friend, is always there to lend a helping hand.

For me, poetry is so much better suited to putting one's feelings into the written word than prose. Autumn Leaves Volume Two is a varied collection of poems, some of which reflect my feelings after the death of our youngest son in 2010. Perhaps, the words and sentiments are what you have been unable to find for your own loss. There are also light-hearted verses, haikus and other forms.

In volume two of Autumn Leaves, I included some poems that gave an indication as to how I felt at the loss of our youngest son, with the hope that some people might relate to the words I had written.In volume three, I share with you a little more. However, a book, no matter how large or small, should contain uplifting and (hopefully) passages that raise a smile. I hope I have achieved this.

These twenty seven original rhymes and poems have been especially written for young children. Some of the rhymes contain just four lines, making them easy to remember. Other rhymes/poems are longer - 'Twas Christmas Eve, has five x four line verses.

The Vosges Mountains in France; Transylvania; and the gloomy streets of late 19th century London. These are the settings to a vampire story like no other.A destiny to be fulfilled, as prophesied in an ancient book; cannibalism; vampires; a meeting with Death; and a murder mystery that has never been...

Oricle Poirot, the famous detective is summoned to the aid of Princess Elizabeth who has received a threatening note in the form of a paper airplane. She must meet the writer of the note at midnight.Poirot pits his wits against evil baron von Frankenstune and his henchmen.This short story is like no other Poirot story. Here, we have comedy galore with innuendos and double entendres.

Raven, a man who has battled with and defeated his own death. He lives in a world, where all religion was banned centuries ago. The world of Man, at the edge of extinction. Vampire hoards roam the land. Many have evolved into more than mere bloodsuckers, taking humans for slaves, food, and breeding...

A Christmas Carol The Parody is a modern rewrite of Dickens' novella, A Christmas Carol. It is set in the twentieth century. Many of the characters are the same in name and the ghosts are still Christmas past, present and future. Here, however, the similarities end. Now, we have a dysfunctional...

Three tales of the macabre:The Room of Ambiguity, where nothing is as it seems. A room where fantastical things happen which culminate in a trial and a sentence being given. Does such a place exist? It does for Jason.The Ghost Machine. Broadbent believes ghosts are recordings of electrical...

When writing poetry, I prefer rhyme - it's just the way I am. I always write what I feel inside. I suppose some would phrase it as 'coming from the heart', and I guess there is truth in that. Autumn and early winter are my favourite times of the year and there is an autumnal theme through these ten poems.