'It was inspired by an owl in my fireplace': Author behind puzzle book on James Herriot creates children's tale for Thirsk museum
Yorkshire author Julian Morgan is perhaps best known for his collection of puzzle books, some drawing on the wonder of the region, others taking inspiration from writers such as Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.
His latest project, however, is a children’s story, an animal-themed adventured written in association with Thirsk World of James Herriot museum.
Software writer and former Classics teacher Julian has already written a puzzle book based on Herriot’s works and has developed programmes for interactive exhibits at the museum, which is set inside Alf Wight’s original 1940s home and surgery.
Now he’s released The Little Owls book, to be sold in the heartland of All Creatures Great and Small. It was inspired by an incident at his home, close to Malton, North Yorkshire.
"I was going downstairs one day to burn some papers in the fireplace, in the log burner,” he recalls. “And I opened the door of the log burner and there was this owl in there.
“It was extraordinary...It was quite black because he was covered in soot. I didn’t know what on earth to do with it. I put my hands in and it allowed me to pick it up so I carried it to the back door, chucked it up in the air and it flew off.”
Julian’s fictional tale follows Minnie the owl, watching over her babies and telling them a story from her mother’s past to warn them of the dangers they face in growing up.
In writing the piece, Julian made contact with Rose Dawson, who runs an owl sanctuary in Thirsk and is known as the ‘bird lady of Yorkshire’.
Julian says: “In writing this story, I wanted to create something beautiful for children, which would also bring them some awareness of the complexity of the natural world."
Since 2019, Julian has worked with the Herriot centre to produce visitor screens using his software skills. Programmes he has created include a quiz about animals linked to the James Herriot series, an animals jigsaw aimed at children, and quizzes on All Creatures Great and Small and The Yorkshire Vet.
A master’s degree in educational computing paved the way for what Leeds-born Julian has achieved. It led initially to the development of his own Classics teaching course and the publication of a series of puzzle books, written to support the learning of Latin, Greek and classical subjects. He now publishes his software and books under the arm of J-PROGS.
Next up for him is a Great Literature puzzle series, drawing on the likes of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Vanity Fair and South Riding. “I’m trying to write a different sort of puzzle book that perhaps might make people read more books and enjoy great literature,” he says.
-The Little Owls, and World of James Herriot Puzzles, are available to purchase online by visiting www.worldofjamesherriot.com