Help a first time author publish her picture book

Hello! My name is Claire Walmsley, and I am a children's author.

It has taken me a long time to call myself that, as I never actually believed writing was for me. I always found spelling and grammar difficult so I assumed that meant I wasn't any good.

However, a friend's push led me to share my writing with others, and you know what? They loved it!

Soon I started sharing my stories with wider audiences, and my confidence grew.

'The Town That Threw Everything Away' is one of the many stories I have written. It has an eco message (something I am very passionate about) that I think is important for all children - after all, they are our planet's future. I always find stories to be a helpful tool when tackling big issues. As a teacher, I know how valuable stories can be in the classroom.

It's the story of a town called Newville - a place where everything looks shiny and new. The townsfolk used items once before throwing them away without thinking of the consequences. But, of course, all actions have consequences, even if you can't see them and, with the arrival of the Dewds, the townsfolk begin to see that.

I'm raising the money to self publish my picture book and create resources, so I reach more children. The money will go towards an illustrator, an art director, an editor and pay for the book's formatting and resources. When the book is published, it will enable me to offer sessions to schools and community groups - something I very much enjoy doing. I also want to show children that even if you find something difficult, it doesn't mean you can't succeed and that anxiety doesn't define us.

Thank you for considering donating to my project. It means so much to me that people are willing to help me achieve my dream of having a book with my name on the cover.

You can find out more about me on my website or connect with me on my Facebook or Instagram

Claire :)