‘She’s right there at the end of our road, in that plot of land that never got built on. She’s sitting with her royal hound. I didn’t notice her before either. Like everyone else, I just walked by.’
About
The Queen on Our Corner is a heartwarming story of homelessness, kindness and community. Through the eyes of a young girl, the woman who dwells in the abandoned plot of land is seen as a warrior queen, with many battles fought and won.
When danger comes to the street, the queen on the corner sounds the alarm and the little girl must find a way to thank her. Can she bring the community together to turn the queen’s corner into a home?
Homelessness and Story
I wrote this book for a few reasons. I’d been thinking about how there were lots of people who lived on the corners of my home town. I started to wonder about them and where they had come from, and what they had done before arriving here.
One morning, I had a long conversation with a man who used to be a saxophone player but who had sold his instrument in order to buy food. I wondered if there were other homeless people who had been musicians, athletes, librarians, readers and writers.
Then, a friend of mine told me a story about a homeless soldier who had once been a hero. I kept thinking about all these potential heroes – the kings and queens – around us. Could I stop to find out more? Maybe, even, help them find a palace?
The Launch
We had a lovely launch for The Queen on Our Corner at Berdoulat in Bath with the incredible illustrator, Nia Tudor and Holly Tonks from Lantana Publishing. Here are some pics from a magical, autumnal, fun-filled toasty evening!
Trailer Talk
Have a watch of the lovely trailer below and read the Queen on Our Corner Kid Lit Talk with Nia and myself. I hope you enjoy it!
