Mandy creates animal magic (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Mandy creates animal magic

8:30am Thursday 5th February 2009 in News By Sally Clifford

Mandy Tyas was born under the creative sign of the Zodiac. Being a Libran, you could say she was destined to be artistic.

When she isn’t styling in the shop where she honed her hairdressing skills as a young girl helping her mum, Val, she’s playing the piano, another new-found skill, or putting pen to paper.

The beautiful baby grand piano dominating one corner of her comfortable, cosy basement sitting-room was, Mandy tells me, her ‘treat’ for her musical achievements.

The series of framed certificates mounted on the wall beside the chimney breast chart her progress to passing Grade 5 in piano performance.

In another corner of the room, her latest production rests proudly on a stand on a table. Pawing over it are Mandy’s pet cats. The ‘feline family’ are clearly lapping up the fame her latest book has brought them.

Alfie and Hendrix – who Mandy fondly refers to as ‘the rock and roll cat’ named after Jimi Hendrix by her music-loving husband, John – were kittens when we first met, following the launch of Mandy’s debut Rollie book.

The sibling cats have become such characters and are now accustomed to posing for press photographs – it’s all part of the promotion for Rollie And Friends, Mandy’s children’s book featuring two kitten characters based on her own cats.

Mandy loves writing. She says her head is constantly full of ideas of what Rollie the rabbit could get up to next! “I often wonder what Rollie is doing,” she smiles.

Living close to the canal in Mirfield where ducks glide by, Mandy finds the colourful boats inspire her to pick her pen up, as does the museum where she works as an assistant when she isn’t busy cutting hair.

Red House Museum in Gomersal is renowned for its literary connections. It was the one-time home of the Taylor family. Charlotte Bronte often visited her friend Mary Taylor there, and it is well-documented that the Briarmains house she refers to in her novel Shirley is based on Red House.

“I find it a nice environment for me,” says Mandy.

Writing under her combined married and maiden names, Tyas-Varley, Mandy’s books are reminiscent of the wonderful animal tales penned by Beatrix Potter which many of us can remember from our childhoods.

Her aim, when she wrote her first Rollie book, was to resurrect the tradition of storytelling.

“I love things that have a beginning, a middle and an end, not abstract, and I suppose I draw my inspiration from very traditional stories that I liked,” says Mandy.

Her paperback, published by Pen Press and accompanied with illustrations by Alex Young, is a meaningful and engaging read educating youngsters about courage, bravery and about being there for others.

Just as Rollie saved a pet shop from disaster in Mandy’s first book, Rollie And The Four Seasons, he comes to the rescue on numerous occasions in his latest adventures.

Ably assisted by his pals Spotty Dotty the Dalmatian and Scruffy Sparrow, Rollie helps Blueberry Bat out of a sticky situation and comes up with an ingenious idea to help him see!

He gives Priscilla the Pointless Pony another purpose. Priscilla was sad that she was no longer a circus pony groomed and bedecked with beautiful plumage pulling her cart round the show ring before cheering crowds, so Rollie and his friends come up with the idea for Priscilla to pull children to school in her cart.

Mandy continues to explore the human element through her latest book with the introduction of new characters Farmer Field and Mr Stamp, a postman.

The postman appears in the story featuring Mandy’s ginger and white pet cat, whose starring role comes in the guise of kittens Scratcher and Nibbler.

Rollie comes to the rescue of the playful pusses when they end up in difficulty, floating down the river on a tree branch.

Riding on the back of a magnificent swan, Rollie returns them safely home begging the question ‘what would we do without clever, brave Rollie?’ “It’s all about friendship and courage,” says Mandy.

Rollie And Friends is aimed at eight and nine-year-olds. Mandy dedicated her first book to her eight-year-old niece, Alex, and her other nephews and nieces who live in Canada. She says Alex has already given the new book her seal of approval. “She thinks the book is just for her!” smiles Mandy.

Rollie And Friends is dedicated to all those who bought and supported Rollie And The Four Seasons and Mandy will be reading extracts from the book at local schools and at Mirfield Library during an Easter event there.

While conscious that children’s literature is an ‘over-saturated’ market, Mandy hopes Rollie And Friends will re-introduce youngsters to traditional storytelling.

“The stories I write are humorous and gentle – the complete opposite to modern stories,” she says. “You can read one little short story that will take five minutes and they are original characters.

“It is charming, something children can identify with. They have all seen ducks or swans on the river or they may have pets, a cat or rabbit and they can identify with that. It’s something they can identify with.”

Rollie And Friends is published by Pen Press priced £4.99. It is available from bookstores including the shop at Red House Museum, Gomersal.