Gems of Shropshire under John's spotlight
A Shropshire author reveals what makes the county sparkle with his 13th book, called 50 Gems of Shropshire.
It has been written by John Shipley of Goodwood Avenue, Bridgnorth, who has written previous books in different genres including a series of westerns under the names of Jake Shipley and Jack Matthews.
His latest book, published by Amberley, shines the spotlight on 50 of the county's jewels, ranging from Offa's Dyke to the RAF Museum at Cosford.
John, a former managing director, saw his first book published in 2003. His first five books were all football histories.
50 Gems of Shropshire is his fourth about his adopted county, the others being The Little Book Of Shropshire, The A-Z Of Curious Shropshire, and Shropshire's Military Heritage.
Born in Wednesbury in the West Midlands, John and his wife Kate moved to Bridgnorth in 1968.
He is currently working on another book for Amberley, called Secret Shrewsbury and scheduled for publication in 2019.
He is also working on a paranormal thriller, plus a couple more westerns, as well as putting the finishing touches to a couple of crime thrillers.
But his writing is not the only string to his bow. A number of John's watercolour paintings and drawings of rabbits can be viewed at Charlie's Mad Hatter's Tea Rooms in The Mill Antique Centre in Bridgnorth.
He will also be exhibiting at the Bridgnorth and District Art Society exhibition at Bridgnorth's St Leonard's Church in August. John is a member of the Shropshire Arts Society and of the Bridgnorth and District Arts Society.
