Grandchildren inspire Melton man's first adventure book

Alan Sharpe, a regular Melton Times letter writer, wanted to write a story that would feature his grandsons, Archie (9) and Harry (7), and his adventure book ‘Archie & Harry in Deep Water’ unfolds with the boys being two years younger than they are now.

For his book Alan also drew on his own experiences as a child in Great Dalby, where it flooded quite regularly in the winter (Nether End), and he enlisted the help of his next door neighbour, watercolour artist Richard Cragg, who did the illustrations for it.

His book has been printed in Melton by B&H Midland Services and is now being sold at the Melton Bookshop on Leicester Street. Copies are £4.99, with all sale profits going to local children’s charities yet to be decided.

Archie & Harry in Deep Water tells the story of two brothers who decide to spend a night camping out in their garden playhouse but their exciting overnight adventure goes frighteningly wrong and they wake up to find the village has flooded.

Alan (68), of Clark Drive, said his book was an amalgamation of some ‘true’ elements in small parts of the story, although not set in real time, with its dramatic points inspired by his ‘own reality’ and experiences as a child.

Alan gave copies of his book to his two grandsons, who live in Bottesford, as a present on Christmas Day.

He said: “Initially they were a bit nonplussed but they like the funny bits and because they do quite grown up things in the book and end up being heroes they’ve got behind it. Archie, being a bit older, is also enthusiastic that we’re doing something for charity as well.

“I’m delighted with the book how has turned out and I’ve already got a storyline for a sequel.”

Copies of Archie & Harry in Deep Water are available from Melton Bookshop or for more details you can email Alan at [email protected]