AN ALLOA author has penned her first children's book after writing about the adventures of her pet dog.
Glenna Morrison's 'Oliver's Travels' is out this Friday (December 8) and tells the story of a ravenous doggy, Oliver, who leaves the safety of his family home to seek adventure and the ultimate snack.
On his quest, he encounters bullish butchers, nice nurses, impolite police officers, happy houses, punctilious pirates, and his first lady doggy love.
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Glenna told the Advertiser that she was inspired to write the book by her much-loved family pet Oliver, a Lhasa Apso.
"Our little Oliver. we rehomed him just before lockdown," she said. "When he came to us, he was a bit nervous as he had not been too well treated. Now he has completely come into his own and is a bit of a boss. He rules the roost. He is a lovely character.
"The book just came to me. Oliver was looking for food. It is all about his quests for the perfect treat. It was inspired by spending a lot of time with Oliver."
Through her work as an early childhood educator, Glenna was able to identify what would appeal to a young audience reading the book.
"I have read lots of books and seeing children's faces light up when they hear funny stories," she said. "It is written to a rhyme as well to the rhythm of the Irish tune "I tell my ma"
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"Rhythm and words are so important in early learning and development."
The book is Glenna's second journey into the world of being a writer.
Earlier this year, she wrote, directed and produced her own play, Guffy, which was set in the Wee County and was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.
The story focuses on three generations of women living in a house in Alloa and is described as an "allegorical tale of the state of our nation."
Glenna added: "It has been great. Because I was directing my first play and directing and producing that this summer, everything has been going on at the same time.
"Before this year, I hadn't written anything. It has been really lovely to have it going on alongside my day job."
Glenna has teamed up with the Alloa Hub who are running an art competition to run in conjunction with the book launch.
Copies of the book will be on sale at the hub as well as on Amazon and through Austin Macauley Publishers.
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