“Small Town Boy” novella is published

ISBN #979-8735537021

“Small Town Boy” is published

A short adventure story written by students in 6L at Durlston Court School

About the Book:

This is a really boring story. It takes place in Normalville, a really, really boring, bleak town. In this town everyone lives the same way, apart from one unusual girl, Felitia. She makes her own rules and follows no one.

Felitia’s brother Brian is desperate to find out her secret. Brian explores the past and teams with the local news reporter.

Will he find out what is really behind the mask?

*All proceeds from the sale of this novella will go to charity*

About the Authors:

The novella is based on an original idea by Callum Murray in 6L. The class began the novella on the first day of ‘Lockdown 3’ 2021. Sections of the book were written every week by individual pupils and discussed by the class; the final few lines were written on the last day of the lockdown. Durlston Court School is proud of this example of creative collaboration by this group, and I am humbled by their ability to find the best opportunities in such challenging times.

- Jane Asplin-Locke, Head of English, Durlston School

Excerpt from “Small Town Boy”:

“My story really started on the day I went to the local library to try and find a book on adventure such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, which I had heard about on the radio. It was so hard to find a book on adventure in the Normalville Library. All the books were all the same size and about the same thing; how to live a perfect Normalville life. There was even one on how to conduct a Normalville burial! Every week I scoured the shelves for any new books. While I searched, I noticed a large ledger open on the desk. The librarian was busy checking that The History of Kilts were in the right order; so, I quietly took a look. The ledger contained Normalville Times Chronicle, which was all the back editions of the local boring newspaper. However, one unusual headline I saw was about to change my life.

The ledger was open on a page from eleven years ago and the headline was Bright flash in Sky and Crash near Normalville. It was an article written by Mr McKellan, our old local reporter. Half of the page had been torn from the book, yet I could read the first paragraph, which explained that eleven years ago there was a bright flash from the sky, something crashed into the woods near John Frost Meadow. I needed to find Mr McKellan’s telephone number. That shouldn’t be difficult as everyone’s phone numbers were all the same except for the last number. There was a telephone directory in the library. I went to find it.”

“Small Town Boy” is available in paperback from Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Town-Durlston-Court-School/dp/B0924121JJ

This novella can also be downloaded as an e-book from Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Town-Durlston-Court-School-ebook/dp/B0924ZR2NF

Press/Media Contact Details:

Jane Asplin-Locke
Head of English
Durlston Court School
Becton Lane, Barton on Sea, New Milton BH25 7AQ
tel: 01425 610 010
E-mail: jane.asplin-locke@durlstoncourt.co.uk

Bradley Road
Enfield, UK EN3 6ES

The Inspira Group is a professional literary agency in London, England.