"That's quite a story," said her mother. "It's not a story, it's true!" said Josie.
Other Books
James has also written several stand-alone books, including The Elf & the Little Unicorn and The real reason Trolls are so Grumpy.
The real reason Trolls are so grumpy
Meet Stanley
"You are very grumpy!" said Lilly, looking at the little Troll.
The thing about Trolls, that everyone knows, is that they are very, very grumpy. There have been many books written about why they are so grumpy, but they are all wrong.
Some books even say that Trolls eat children for breakfast, which is complete nonsense because Trolls actually eat vegetable broth.
Personally, I don't think that any of the people who have written about them have ever really met a Troll.
I, on the other hand, have met quite a few and the one thing they have all said about being grumpy is that it's down to one reason and one reason only........
(Suitable for children aged 4+)
The Elf & the Little Unicorn
What happens when book characters dictate the story
Writing a children's book is usually easy for James Hywel but when the book characters start dictating how the book should be written - chaos reigns!
This story highlights why you should never work with children, animals, Elves or Unicorns!
The process James has used in this book in making himself the main character in the story is called Self-insertion and has been used by several authors including Stephen King (Books 6 and 7 of the Dark Tower anthology), Jonathan Ames (The Alcoholic), W. Somerset Maugham (The Razor’s Edge), Bret Easton Ellis (Lunar Park) and Geoffrey Chaucer's (The Canterbury Tales).
(Suitable for children aged 8+)
Review
"I can truthfully say I really enjoyed it.
From the title I was expecting something along the lines of Narnia but I liked it because it was so different and well-written and witty. I love the characters, cheeky Buttercup and the donkey are very cute! I actually didn’t want to put it down and go out, which is testimony in itself. You do write so well, your stories are captivating, easy to read and have an appealing honesty about them if that makes sense."
Andrea.
No. 5 Stonegate
When Mr Fox came to dinner
It is a short story about a fox seen one night on the streets of York.
In times past, the Celtic people believed the fox was a guide through the spirit world, and numerous beliefs surrounded this animal. Folklore often tells us that seeing a single fox is a sign of good luck.
Note: This short story is set as a narrative poem. This is a form of poetry which tells a story, often using the voice of a narrator and characters. The entire story is usually written in verse and is generally short.
(Suitable for children aged 4+)
Review
"Many of us have seen a fox late at night on our urban streets. Like me, you have probably wondered where he (or she) is going. This narrative poem by James is a delightful view of one possibility.
After reading this, I hope a fox comes to my house for dinner one day!"
Walk with me
A collection of poems
A collection of poems about Life, Death & everything in between.
This collection of poems was written at St. Mary's Abbey in West Malling, Kent where James spent seven days in solitude and silence with the nuns.
It was a life-changing experience and helped him through a very troubled period of his life.
The Abbey brought him peace and enhanced the creative side of his brain.
During the seven days, not only did he write these nine poems, but he also wrote three children’s books and created the character Albert Mouse.
* Only available as an ebook.
* Suitable for adults.
The horse with short legs
A book written to raise funds for The Rocking Horse Project
In 2023 James wrote The horse with short legs to raise funds for the Rocking Horse Project in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland) in Southern Africa.
James donated his time and the entire royalties for this book to the charity.
The first edition is now sold out!
"Thank you from people you may never get to meet.
On behalf of all the children and their families who are going to benefit from your writing, a very big Thank You".
This book has raised £1,262 for The Rocking Horse Project.
(Suitable for children aged 4+)
This book will soon be available in 'SiSwati'
James Hywel Books and The Rocking Horse Project are currently working on a SiSwati version of this book to enable children in Eswatini, whose first language is not English, to enjoy this wonderful story.
Butternut goes on Safari
A book written to raise funds for a charity in Eswatini
All royalties from this book will be donated to Swaziland Animal Welfare Society (SWAS) in Eswatini.
We will keep you updated on how much money this book raises.
(Suitable for children aged 4+)
The farmer who overslept
Now I have a question for you ...
When you sit down to eat your breakfast in the morning, do you ever take a moment to think about where your eggs come from, the milk for your cereals, or even the cereals themselves?
Do you know who makes sure the milk, eggs, cereal and bread are all there for you in the morning? No, it’s not the farmer.
It’s the cockerel!
No, trust me. It is.
*This story uses dialogue repetition that is suitable for very young children.
(Suitable for children aged 4+)
Social Media - no thanks!
The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:
- Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
- For this reason from the 1st of May 2025, we're not going to be on any of them.
- Instead, we are on Substack.
Social Media - no thanks!
We are against cyberbullying
The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:
Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
For this reason from the 1st of May 2025, we're not going to be on any of them.
Instead, we are on Substack.