Lia Ginno
I was born in Eltham, London, and qualified as a nursery nurse in my late 20's. Once qualified I worked with children in special units, hospitals and schools around London before moving down to Cornwall with my husband and two daughters. I went back to college part-time in my early 40's and studied for my Certificate in Education and then lectured in colleges in Child development and education.
However, the sea and the mystic Cornish landscape abounded with legends of mysterious secret tunnels, sacred relics, stone circles, and ruins and they tugged at my imagination, which started my writing. A passion I had began before my marriage and children. In researching Cornish legends - including finding a coffin that was for a giant and had a three-inch tooth in it! I found that most of the legends were often mixed with religious history, (now a hobby of mine)and so my stories began and became 'The LEGEND' Trilogy.(for 8 - 80-year-olds) Book 1 - The Legends and the Inca Crystals is set in Cornwall, Book 2 - The Legends Saving the Rainforest Orchid, is mostly about the legends in the Peruvian rainforest, The last book Book 3 - The legends and the Bible Code Quest, takes you to different parts of the world. These stories are all intertwined with adventure, mystery and world creation, religion, myths and magic, and 'real' places on earth....Oh and a flying, transporting laptop.
My first book in the 'Special Pals Series' places children with disabilities in the 'action' of the story 'The Gallant Three,' and has been inspired by my past work and my grandchildren and aimed at a slightly younger reader (7-10yrs) and takes each young reader on a puzzling mystery. The setting for the action is a school where three children, Amy, Sam, and Charlie, are determined to discover why the school caretaker (Sam's Grandad) is having his work sabotaged, and who is the culprit locking him in the school hall cupboard. The story is told by Amy, who is nine-going-on-sixteen with an over-active imagination; she is cheeky, witty, deaf, and has the two most annoying older brothers on this planet. Her pal, Charlie, is the cleverest child in the school, very bossy and always right! They both protect Sam from being bullied because he is overweight. The book is easy to read and illustrated with great drawings for 7 -10 years.
Another of my books is 'Nanny's Babysitting Adventures,' four stories about my grandchildren and me and how they usually outwit me when we play. These stories are to be shared with non-readers as well as early readers as children can recall their own memories that encourage further language with suggested activities that inspire ideas.
'Magna Carta,' is a comical book with wonderful illustrations and jokes that tell how the charter was first formed. It also goes on to say how the Magna Carta was adapted and became The Charter of the Forest. It has suggested activities that are fun and part of the curriculum. For primary aged children.
Rhymes that are amusing children find adorable and it helps them learn to read and spell. 'Chilling Chiming Rhyming,' also combines frequently used words that make up sixty-five percent of our language. The book is easy for a child to handle and has marvelous illustrations. The rhymes and story are about animals and can give you the goose bumps another thing that young children delight in. At the end of the book are several games that encourage further rhyming. For 3 -10-year-olds.
My latest book is 'Turmeric and Magic' about a dragon that has allergies to fire and cannot fly and the worse thing, she dose not know magic like other dragons which makes her sad. Then she discovers there is a book that teaches magic in a far away land. Being brave she sets out to find it. The illustrations are by Tamsin Greenbank and are beautiful especially Turmeric who has the most marverlous expressions. To be read to or for young readers. (3 -10years)
As a child my favorite trip out was to my local library for books by Enid Blyton - The Famous Five and The Secret Seven adventures were as well known as JK Rowling and Harry Potter. Several of the comments about my books are that they are written in the same vein as these Enid Blyton stories. Children on an adventure, learning about the world and themselves.
I love working with children because I adore their naive spirit with regard to magic, their wonderful imagination and although retired I visit schools, with creative thought workshops and interactive storytelling.
