Behind a thin veneer of respectability, life in a small English village is not all it may seem. Through the eyes of Chumleigh the cat, the rural goings on are recorded in this funny and poignant diary.
From a cat’s perspective, Chumleigh tells all about life in his house and the antics of his neighbours. From domestic disharmony to a cannabis farm in next door’s garden shed, he sees it all and shares it all in his diary.
This is a cat who enjoys the finer elements of feline existence like tuna, sleeping in the warm and cat treats. But life doesn’t always pan out the way he would like.
Supported by a rich cast of locals, as odd and individualistic as still found in many small villages, Chumleigh charts a year in his life. Traumatic visits to the vet, turf wars with the local ginger tom and a desire to eliminate a neighbour’s yappy dog are all set down with great humour and insight.
If you’ve ever lived in a village or owned a cat, this will make you laugh. If you’ve never lived in a village and never owned a cat, this will be a wonderful insight into what you have been missing.
The Secret Diary of Chumleigh the Cat is full of adult humour covering a year in the life of a cat who never ceases to be amazed at just what goes on around him!
Paul Lawrence (63) is a motor sport journalist by profession, specialising in UK racing and rallying. He has written half a dozen books on the subject. Many weekends are spent reporting and photographing events all over the UK, usually in the company of his teenage son Ben. He is also a director of TFM Publishing Ltd and splits his time between the two activities.
Paul is married to Nikki and they live in a converted barn in a Shropshire village. Any remaining free time is spent walking in the hills of the Welsh border region and watching wildlife.
Chumleigh is a diversion into fiction, which started as a COVID lockdown project. It is an observation based on many years of having cats and living in small English villages. Close friends might even suggest that Chumleigh is a feline embodiment of the author!
Nicki Averill is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based near Oxford, UK, specialising in design for print and illustration, both digital and freehand.
With over 25 years' experience working alongside some highly talented and creative people, Nicki has developed a constantly evolving and diverse skill set, creating beautiful artwork designed to influence and inspire.
Nicki has worked extensively in publishing, designing covers, layouts and magazines, as well as art direction, project management and providing illustrations. Her clients come from many and varied industries, such as academia, public sector, health and beauty, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, motorsport and equine.
She spends much of her spare time with horses or gardening with Scribble the cat, who has helped with modelling for this book!
