Kay Harker and Cole Hawlings Picture accessed via BBC There are few things more Christmassy than the opening few bars of the theme tune to The Box of Delights . In fact, the tune is based on Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony and had been used in radio adaptations of the same novel years earlier than the 1984 television series. Clearly, everyone already knew that you just couldn't improve on that sound to evoke the magic of Christmas which - for me and for many - is so wonderfully explored in John Masefield's story. As a viewer, one of the things I enjoy most about the television series of The Box of Delights is the acting. Child actors are precarious things: too sweet and they're almost unbearable to watch, not sweet enough and they're unbelievable. They must walk that fine line between the two, and it is a perilous one! Most young actors fall into the first category, where their on-screen presence is almost dangerously saccharine. Not so the child actors ...
Maybe outlaws have driven you from your home, or maybe the wyverns have destroyed everything you know.
Whatever the reason, you are alone in the wilderness and you need to eat. You need this recipe book before those hungry vultures seize their chance.
A tongue in cheek tale of fantasy cuisine.
This book was written as a Christmas present for my brother and 3 of my sisters. We used to have super fun times playing Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and I knew the old handbook back to front. My favourite section was the Bestiary and I'd include the weird and wonderful creatures in my story of the time.
I also loved creating characters. There's something quite thrilling about the role of a dice, and really, really hoping that you get a good enough WS (Weapon skill) to become a warrior. I wanted to be an elf when I was little (I think the phase came after wanting to be a mammoth) so it was a good opportunity for me to fulfil this life dream.
(The mammoth would be a bit harder...I'm still waiting for that one...)
So, last Christmas, I wrote a funny little book about fantasy cooking, using all my knowledge of fantasy books and roleplay to inspire me. This book is a tribute to all the amazing fantasy worlds out there.
And I can't believe it's been launched today. I've not plastered it about as much as I probably should. My next book is the one I will be really putting some umph behind. This is merely a bit of fun!
As such, it is available as FREE on Smashwords, and on the Crowvus website. If you like to buy your books from Amazon, then it is 99p.
So, please, go on and check it out. I'm not usually one to boast, but I'm very proud of this wee book. If you have a dry sense of humour, it will certainly appeal to you!
Oh, and don't forget to leave a review. I will love you forever!
Subscribe to the Crowvus Call-Out and get sneak peaks here.

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