Cane Toads

The peaceful, humdrum life of the tiny community at Little Bidwell is shaken to the core by the arrival of several and various visitors. Some have come to appreciate the respite and solitude this secluded and semi-isolated spot offers, but others have a more sinister purpose in mind.

At the centre of events is an ancient chapel whose uses over the years have ranged from place of worship to cattle shed. What will be its function this time?

A runaway child, a grieving widow, a retired pop star and a large dog, romp through the pages as subterfuge and secrets unfold and the Cane Toad is finally ousted.

About the Author:

Janet Ollerenshaw is a retired English & Music teacher and mother of seven children. She has lived in Hertfordshire for most of her life and has been involved with Scouting, animals and arts & crafts alongside her teaching career.  She writes for pleasure and enjoys word-craft, so her writing can be prosaic at times as she feels the experience of reading should be more than just a good story, rather like a fine wine, which touches senses other than simply taste and satisfaction and which lasts the test of time.

Janet has a M.A. in Educational Research from Cambridge and studied with the Open University for her first Degree in Humanities with Music and English Language. She does seasonal work as an exam marker for Edexcel and for the Cambridge International Exam board.  Janet also published the “Turning” series of novels entitled “Inside Out”, “Upside Down” and “Back to Front”, along with another cosy British murder-mystery entitled “Secret of the Snail”.

Excerpt

“Excuse me,” she whispered and he finally looked down into her serious hazel eyes.

“Oh!” he exclaimed, “and who might you be?”

“It doesn’t matter who I am but I need some help with something important.” She tried to speak clearly but was so unused to talking to anyone other than Christopher, that her voice came out squeakily and rather quietly, “he’s up in the woods; in my den, I can’t carry him,” she said.

Fortunately for her, Clive did not wait to ask questions. He could sense the urgency in the young girl’s demeanour and reaching for his coat and boots, he asked her to wait just a moment and he would come. She waited, standing on one leg and resisting the urge to run, but did not immediately notice that the dog lady had joined her by the door. “Are we going somewhere?” she asked, not who are you or what are you doing here, and Bonnie was both surprised and grateful. “Yes,” she whispered again, “He’s just coming now.”

“Cane Toads” is available in paperback and can be ordered from Amazon at:

This novel is also available to download as an e-book from Amazon at:

Press/Media Contact Details:

Janet Ollerenshaw’s Literary Agent: 

Darin Jewell, Managing Director, The Inspira Group Literary Agency, 5 Bradley Road, Enfield, England EN3 6ES
Tel. UK +208 292 5163
E-mail: [email protected]

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Small Town Boy

A short adventure story written by students in 6L at Durlston Court School

About the Book:

This is a really boring story. It takes place in Normalville, a really, really boring, bleak town. In this town everyone lives the same way, apart from one unusual girl, Felitia. She makes her own rules and follows no one.

Felitia’s brother Brian is desperate to find out her secret. Brian explores the past and teams with the local news reporter.

Will he find out what is really behind the mask?

*All proceeds from the sale of this novella will go to charity*

About the Authors:

The novella is based on an original idea by Callum Murray in 6L.  The class began the novella on the first day of ‘Lockdown 3’ 2021. Sections of the book were written every week by individual pupils and discussed by the class; the final few lines were written on the last day of the lockdown. Durlston Court School is proud of this example of creative collaboration by this group, and I am humbled by their ability to find the best opportunities in such challenging times.

• Jane Asplin-Locke, Head of English, Durlston School

Excerpt

“My story really started on the day I went to the local library to try and find a book on adventure such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, which I had heard about on the radio. It was so hard to find a book on adventure in the Normalville Library. All the books were all the same size and about the same thing; how to live a perfect Normalville life. There was even one on how to conduct a Normalville burial! Every week I scoured the shelves for any new books. While I searched, I noticed a large ledger open on the desk. The librarian was busy checking that The History of Kilts were in the right order; so, I quietly took a look. The ledger contained Normalville Times Chronicle, which was all the back editions of the local boring newspaper. However, one unusual headline I saw was about to change my life.

The ledger was open on a page from eleven years ago and the headline was Bright flash in Sky and Crash near Normalville. It was an article written by Mr McKellan, our old local reporter. Half of the page had been torn from the book, yet I could read the first paragraph, which explained that eleven years ago there was a bright flash from the sky, something crashed into the woods near John Frost Meadow. I needed to find Mr McKellan’s telephone number. That shouldn’t be difficult as everyone’s phone numbers were all the same except for the last number. There was a telephone directory in the library. I went to find it.”

“Small Town Boy” is available in paperback from Amazon at:

This novella can also be downloaded as an e-book from Amazon at:

Press/Media Contact Details:

Jane Asplin-Locke
Head of English
Durlston Court School
Becton Lane, Barton on Sea, New Milton BH25 7AQ
tel: 01425 610 010
E-mail: [email protected]