Torquay author publishes Christmas story

TORQUAY illustrator and author Michelle Conn has published her debut solo book, The Christmas Star.

Published on August 27, the book tells a story of teamwork, friendship, sharing the spotlight and overcoming big emotions.

The children’s picture book follows schoolboy Timmy, who is cast as a Christmas tree in the end of year play and his best friend gets the lead role.

Playing the Christmas tree, Timmy wants to get noticed and tries different ways to get attention, but when disaster strikes, he is left to find a way to fix things.

Ms Conn has previously illustrated Raised by Moths and All You Can Be, with The Christmas Star her first book as both author and illustrator.

She said the story started out in 2019 when a little image popped into her head.

“I just had to draw it.

“It was of Timmy. I didn’t know it was Timmy at the time, but it was a little boy dressed in a Christmas tree, standing in a spotlight on an empty stage and he looked a little bit frightened.”

After drawing Timmy, she posted the picture to her Instagram page where people had a strong positive reaction to it.

“It just started off with this little character and it was like it wouldn’t leave me alone, I just kept thinking about this character,” she said.

After Timmy had been created, it was not until 2021 that Conn put pen to paper and started storyboarding the book.

“I don’t actually ever start with the words, I always start with the images and so the images were my way of writing the story.

“Getting the character was really important, and I just wanted to make a really fun book that kids could almost live vicariously through this character, just thinking ‘He’s made really bad choices here’ and it kind of becomes funny.”

Ms Conn will be doing a story time at Torquay Books with local author Kaye Baillie on September 8 at 11am, reading their newly published books.

For more information, head to michelleconnillustration.com or follow her on Instagram @michelleconn_illustration