Here are some sneak previews of The Lost Book of Cregheligan.

Extract from:
Chapter 1
‘The First Day of Summer’

A late afternoon summer sunshine edged its rays through tall leafy trees, standing either side of the lane like soldiers on parade. Hazy, dry warmth filled the air, providing a gentle breeze for butterflies to dither around in. The atmosphere filled with innumerable measure of insect activity, most too faint for the eye to see while passing.  The height of summer fell upon the nation, and with it, came freedom.
School was over, it was the start of summer term, the start of what would seem like a lifetime to the herds of children that began to pour from the schoolyard. Younger ones at first, delicately whisked away by over protective parents to the safety of oversized cars. Then the bells rang out, and like a flurry of ants from a hill they spilled out onto the lane. Marauding, miniature warriors filled the battlefield known as Chapel Lane, heading not for war, but home to parents, pets and playthings alike. School was conquered at last, well, at least for this year.

“Race you to the farm gate” shouted Tom as he pelted down the lane, Damien laughed and chased after him followed by a scattering of others.
Tom reached the gate and placing both hands on the top bar he vaulted into the air and over, landing gracefully on the dusty track beyond. Damien did the same a few seconds after and the pair carried on along the track, laughing at the thought of a life of freedom ahead. Both boys were 14 years of age, Tom slightly older, a fact he occasionally reminded Damien of if ever there happened to be a disagreement between the two. Not that Damien took any notice, he generally displayed the finger in gross disrespect for his elder, at which point a wrestle would ensue. Ultimately one would have the other in an arm lock or similar method of restraint, and the disagreement was resolved. The pair had been friends from junior school and spent most of their spare time together. When not exploring uncharted forests at the bottom of their housing estate, they would often be found engaged in combat, over at Tom’s house on his Play Station.

The warm summer breeze gently swayed the wheat fields surrounding the track along which they ran. As the boys approached the wooded valley, two pigeons lifted into the air with clapping wings at the sight of the invaders. Curling above the trees the birds made their escape to the far side of the wood. The occasional croaking of a distant pheasant added to the activity, enriching the atmosphere of this special place. By now the heat had blunted the boys’ competitive edge as they panted up to the stile which led into the wood. Clambering over, they entered another world, a world of mystery and darkness, of moss-covered roots and deep earthy aromas. Aromas which filled the lungs with the scent of wild garlic and pungent vegetation.

A thin, well-trodden path led off down the slope. The forest, set in a steep valley, acted like a border between home and school. A stream flowed south through the middle, separating the good of home-life and evil of school. It was a truly beautiful place; ancient trees heaved skyward. Broad reaching emerald canopies cast a green glow over everything beneath. In midday sunlight this place was the Garden of Eden, at dusk, it filled with unseen demons lurking behind tree trunks, and goblins hunched deep within crevices. Creatures awaiting the unwary, or at least it seemed. The boys staggered down the track and into the wooded valley, excitedly planning their explorations ahead…

Extract from:
Chapter 2
‘The Hollow’

Five O’clock came and with it a knock at Damien’s front door, “See you later Mum, I’m off out to the woods with Tom.” shouted Damien, swinging a half empty rucksack over his shoulder.

“Alright, but I want you back in this house by nine O’clock tonight, do you hear?” He did, but he was too far out of the house to reply, the mission was underway. Dressed more like underpaid mercenaries than explorers, the pair set off East through the estate and then North along a country lane. Winding their way through fields and farmyards to an expanse of disused industrial ground, with the foundry at the far end “So, if we get spotted by the farmer again, we head for the woods and split up like last time.” Ever the organiser, Tom directed the escape and evasion plan, should the mission fail at stage one.

They knew that by splitting up only one of them would be likely to get caught. Loyalty was steadfast and neither one of them would ever break, even under the harshest of punishment, or at least until their parents found out. The track was a dry and dusty gravelled affair, but soon the foundry came into view. Fenced off like an old wooden palisade with loose timbers surrounding a tall watchtower-like chimney. They had been here before, but never ventured inside, once again another giant leap for boy-kind.

“There, to the right of the gate, there’s a gap in the bottom of the fence.” Tom pointed and led the way to the place he had spotted. Then, checking around for onlookers, he pushed through the fence and Damien followed on. Inside felt like stepping back in time, grey dust covered the floor like radioactive fallout. Iron ingots piled high against the far brick wall of the factory. A miniature rail track ran down from a ramp attached to the chimney, then disappeared off into a shed at the far end of the yard. This was like a dream come true, a gold mine from a black and white movie, everything grey and drab looking…