An Isle of Wight Children’s author-illustrator has announced her latest novel, which is loosely based on the Isle of Wight and its historic links with smuggling.
Elizabeth Morley takes her inspiration for her fourth book, The Smugglers of Hog’s Head Bay, from the smuggling history of the Isle of Wight, where she is a part-time resident.
The book, which is said to be suitable for readers aged 7 to 11, The Smugglers of Hog’s Head Bay is published by Feed A Read (2021) and is available now.
As with her previous books, Morley’s latest adventure is set in a parallel world populated by hedgehogs, yet inspired by the world around us, and packed with her own charming colour illustrations.
Once again she has dug deep with her research – weaving a nail-biting tale of intrigue and danger which draws on real historical events of the 1770s, and basing many of her illustrations on original 18th century prints and paintings of the Isle of Wight.
The story takes the reader from Brambling Harbour (Brading Harbour) and on to Hog’s Head Bay (Freshwater Bay). Here the action focuses on the Hog’s Head Inn, based on a real-life smugglers’ pub, the Mermaid, which once stood on the site of the Albion Hotel. The climax of the story involves a thrilling sea-chase off the Needles.
Elizabeth Morley researched and wrote much of her book while based in Brighstone, where she lives when in the Isle of Wight. The village appears in the story under the name of Bristlestone. She has previously published 3 other children’s books in the same series. Further information is available from her website – www.elizabethmorley.net.
