James Hywel

James began dabbling in writing in 2001 with many of his first books going to 5th and 6th editions. In August 2021 he wrote The Musings of the Milliner for and featuring his niece and nephew in Scotland. Little did he know that this book would be the start of The Magical Misadventures of Mr Milliner series (now containing seven books).

His next series was the much-loved Adventures of Albert Mouse, featuring Dartmouth’s most fa-mouse resident, Albert Mouse.

To try and explain where his stories come from would be impossible and not even James can explain it. His writing process is as unorthodox and quirky as his books are magical and mind-transporting.

He has written over thirty books and now writes full-time.

James pens a weekly email entitled Letters from the Oak Tree where he talks about writing, books, and basically anything and everything else.

"Isn’t it wonderful when you see your child reading a book? It’s even more amazing when you pick the book up after they have gone to bed, and love it just as much! For me, that’s the joy of writing - to offer a story that appeals to all age groups.

Reading a book will do many different things to many different people because we are all different. ​

As a writer, my aim is to keep readers entertained, educated, and - most of all - emotionally moved.  I often get emotional as I write a story, either for the character, or the storyline, then I know that a few of my readers will do also. 

That keeps them turning the pages.​​ "

James Hywel

"Acorns are tiny little shells full of potential. Inside each acorn is a magnificent energy for life that, in the right conditions, will allow them to grow into one of the biggest and strongest trees on this planet of ours.
Children are all like acorns, carrying within them an inner gift of imagination, an imagination of the mighty tree they will hope to grow into one day. 
​As adults, it is our duty to nurture, feed and support their growth, so we might one day sit beneath their branches and be proud of the tree that they have grown into."
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James Hywel

A book should transport the reader to another time or place​. Each of us has a unique purpose in life. But even if we are a surgeon, pilot, or astronaut, we can still often wonder what it would be like to live in a different place, have a different job, or even be a completely different person. For a brief moment, a book can allow us to step outside our own reality and be, do or go anywhere we want - as long as we keep reading. Each turn of the page can take us beyond the here and now, and into someone else’s real or imaginary place. 

Books allow us to imagine, just for a moment, “what if?”

We have all had moments when we felt alone, even when we were living at home with our parents. We would sit by ourselves upstairs and pick up a book. Suddenly, we would be dropped into the pages of the story, like we were actually there. The characters would be our friends and we would quickly form an emotional connection with characters. We would want them to survive a battle, save the cat who is stuck in the tree or even find their way home after becoming lost in a dark forest. With each turn of the page, we would say "please let them ......please save them.......please find them..........".