Lisburn woman's delight as first book goes on sale

The story follows the adventures of one little boy, Chris-tom, on an afternoon visit to his Grandma where he dreams the giraffes Gladys and Gwendolyn, which hang over the back of the sofa, are actually real - but is it all a dream?

Sandra's book went on sale at the Lisburn Waterstones this week, and she could hardly believe her 'draft excluders' would become so well known.

"We have two giraffe draft excluders and they do hang over the back of the sofa," Sandra explained. "They were used as doorstoppers when my children Christopher and Thomas were around five or six years old. I used to say, 'they are getting very cold', so we put an old rug and a mat down beside the doors and put the giraffes on the sofa and they have been there ever since, even though my sons are now grown up.

"I was sitting at home in September looking at the giraffes and the story came into my mind. I thought it was a simple little story that would appeal to children."

Sandra was born in Ballymacash and attended Ballymacash and William Foote Primary Schools before moving on to Lisburn Technical College where she acquired secretarial skills.

She spent seven years living in Princeton, New Jersey after leaving Lisburn at 18 before returning to Northern Ireland, marrying in 1970 and raising her family in the city.

The avid reader, one of ten children, said her love of books was instilled in her as a child. She was thrilled to see her work go on sale in her home city and has high hopes Waterstones branches elsewhere, and Amazon, will eventually sell 'My Grandma has two Giraffes'.

Sandra added: "I've been writing for years, just ordinary short stories which have been published in various women's magazines, but this is my first book.

"I always read to my children and they are still avid readers. When I was growing up we didn't have a TV, so we would read and my mother made up stories. It is a great outlook for creativity.

"I know lots of girls my age who have grandchildren and I think this book would appeal to those children. I certainly think it's very important that a child is taught to read and is read to."

Having a book published is hard work, which Sandra can attest to, having seen manuscripts returned from many publishing houses. However, with the help of her publisher, Cedric Wilson of Award Publications, she has been able to see her book on sale.

Sandra said: "I was looking for an illustrator and found Martin Kelly, who was terrific. He brought the story to life and he put me in touch with Cedric, who helped me when it could have been lying on someone's desk for months before being returned to me.

"This is a nice story that I think will really appeal to children."