Killarney

By Michelle Crean
<h3>Learning to write again after a life-changing accident some years ago has helped one local resident publish her first ever children&#8217;s book.</h3>
Felicia Thomas, who is originally from Kent but living in Arbustus Grove for the past 30 years, is thrilled to have her book &#8216;Miss Polly and the Crocodile&#8217; set in the magical land of Loopaloo, printed and now in local bookshops.
The artist and author put pen to paper to not only write, but also illustrate the book, as part of her rehabilitation after a life-changing accident in 2013.
It tells the story of a grumpy king, a very spoilt princess, Miss Polly and a crocodile, a shy little girl, good friends and a bully, and it&#8217;s aimed at ages&nbsp;five to eight year-olds.
The characters are faced with very relatable problems, but find that being nice to others and a little magic can save the day.
&#8220;I lost my fingers in an accident some years ago,&#8221; Felicia told the Killarney Advertiser.
&#8220;I wrote the book as a way to exercise my hand and then I put it away for years.&#8221;
It was when she was asked to illustrate a book for someone else earlier this year that she thought of her own again and sent it to a publisher, and they loved it!
&#8220;They came back and said they loved it straight away. I&#8217;m very excited about it.&#8221;
Now published with illustrations by Felicia herself, the book is available in Eason Killarney, Woulfes in Listowel, Crystal Cave in Killorglin, Kanturk Bookshop, Puccinis in Kenmare and from her website www.feliciathomas.ie for &euro;8.99.

Debut novel published by Arbutus Grove resident

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