Shropshire dragon fired author's imagination
A Welsh dragon far from its Shropshire birthplace has inspired a debut children's book by author Mark Jackson called Druid's Quest.
"The inspiration for the book is a small red dragon manufactured by Merrythought of Ironbridge," said Mark.
“Some years ago I was working in London and I stumbled across a wonderful toy emporium called Frog Hollow. It was crammed with magical toys, spinning tops, dolls' houses, rocking horses, battalions of tall upright soldiers in crimson and teddy bears dotted throughout.
“Tucked away on a wooden chair was this singular small red dragon. I was on my way to work. I had things to do, yet, when I emerged from the shop, I had bought Druid.”
Mark got in touch with Merrythought to double check that Druid had been made there, and the firm confirmed he had.
His book, set in Wales and London, is about how Druid comes to London in a quest to find a treasure.
“I was lucky enough to get to work with the hugely talented illustrator Zee Allison,” said Mark, who lives in Scotland and is a BAFTA Scotland nominated writer and an awarding-winning short film maker.
“The story is great fun and of course, Druid, the inspiration for the story, is still with me.”
Druid's Quest is published by Troubador Publishing, based in Leicestershire.
