The title is somewhat ambiguous as I have only just had my first book published, I have written some short stories, but Fredrick Forsythe I am not, but it gets me into what I have to say, unless of course my editor changes this bit, then I am not sure what happens.
Yes, I have written a book- The Tales of Padistan Bear `The Beginning` it’s available on Amazon and doing reasonably well. When I created the character called Padistan I was very enthusiastic, I still am, however, when writing life tends to get in the way, well that’s my excuse, and discipline, which is essential in this area of work, tends to be put on hold. This drawback on discipline happens in particular when, like me, you live by the sea in a hot climate.
The obligations do not end there, after publishing your work people need remuneration, in particular, your publisher and in my case Illustrator as well needs to be paid. If they are on a Royalty basis, this means they only get paid if your work is selling, so the pressure is on you.Not a favorable scenario if, like me, your writing a further book, and intend a series.
But I am finding out there are great sides of this work as well, and it’s that I want to touch on in this blog. Padistan was created to appeal to all ages; the stories are fantasy and adventure, the beautiful illustrations draw the reader into the story and the characters.
I was in the UK recently attending an important family wedding and while there visited my Brother-in-Law and his family in Birmingham. A Greek family barbecue was the order of the day with Souvlaki-Salad-Dips-Beer the works, and while there I got chatting with his daughter Nicola about her youngest child Anthie.
Anthie has an appealing disposition in that I have never known her without a smile, from the day she was born she smiles all the time, and it’s a cheeky infectious smile that you cannot help but give in to whatever she wants, intelligent girl. However, she has had some discomfort recently with a little-known condition called Perthes Disease, or avascular necrosis, which affects the hip.
Some of the greatest experts in the world have uncertainties about how to treat individual patients with Perthes Disease, and there are therapeutic nihilists – practitioners who do not believe that any treatment for this disease is effective and that no active treatment should be made available to the patient. There were difficult decisions to be made by her parents Nicola and Petro. Eventually, Anthie underwent an Osteotomy on her hip, and a cast was placed on her legs to assist in the healing process.
Anthie was wheelchair bound for some months while the treatment did its job, she even attended the wedding in a wheelchair, but smiled and joined in all through the celebrations, her brothers even pushing her around the dance floor so she would not be left out.
She looked beautiful in her new dress for the occasion, and she was beaming away at everyone. Now there are smiles which are put on especially for the occasion, and they are smiles that are true, her eyes shone with happiness as she enjoyed the day with the rest. There are no downsides to this story, she has now, as I write, had the plaster casts removed and she is doing fine. But what she did for me on that barbecue evening will remain with me for a lifetime.
The decision to present Anthie with a copy of The Tales of Padistan Bear signed with a little message inside, is where the joy comes to the fore. Her face, when she held the book was a picture, her mother Nicola has told me since that she loves the book and Padistan. It’s a great privilege to have the small gift I have of being able to create a character, that if nothing else has given this little girl happiness and enjoyment.
Anthie`s time in her wheelchair was made bearable, and enjoyable by the fact that she has two mischievous brothers; Elder brother Alexandrou and younger brother Vasili, are both characters and great company.They have inherited this nature from their wonderful parents Nicola and Petro.Both parents have not exactly had the best of health in recent years, but through all their adversity, and it’s been a lot, they both smile and have fun, they are truly a lovely family that I love and admire greatly.
Thank you for reading this blog.
John Warner Author/Creator The Tales of Padistan Bear.
For further information on Perthes Disease visit: The Perthes Association www.perthes.org.uk
John Warner Author 