Aspiring Chef's Adventure's Teach Children to be Proud of Their Individuality
Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 14, 2007 -- Recognizing the shortage of positive young female role models in children's literature, Dave Jeffery decided to create a character in the spirit of Nancy Drew--a girl whose values were dictated by a sense of morality, not peer influence or socially desirable aesthetic qualities. Jeffery's skillfully penned creation is Beatrice Beecham, the redheaded freckle-faced star of "Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast" (ISBN 978-1847282934, Lulu, 2007).
Twelve-year-old Beatrice loves to cook and is a bit of an outcast among her peers. When she is faced with difficult decisions in life, Beatrice turns to her imaginary culinary council of TV chefs, led by Jamie Oliver, for assistance. In "Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast," Beatrice's father loses his job and her family moves to the coastal town of Dorsal Finn, where they stay with the colorful and wise 77-year-old Aunt Maud, a friend of the family. Young at heart, Aunt Maud adds depth and humor to the novel with her simple, yet insightful sayings and constant challenges to authority.
As Beatrice soon realizes, Doral Finn is an isolated town with a bevy of strange traditions and customs, including the rather unsavory Fearsome Feast. When she discovers that an ancient cookbook from Aunt Maud contains a poem with clues concerning Dorsal Finn's secret history, Beatrice is determined to solve the mystery, even if it means employing her culinary skills in the Fearsome Feast. At her side throughout the adventure are Lucas, Elmo and Patience, "The Newshounds" who work for Aunt Maud and befriend Beatrice.
"The Newshounds represent what great things people can achieve when they work together and respect each other," Jeffery says. "The novel's underlying message is that there is nothing wrong with being different. Good friends are those who accept you as the person you are, not what they wish you to be."
"Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast" is targeted towards 10 to 14-year olds, but Jeffery's imaginative writing and the novel's humor-infused suspense have won over fans as young as 7 and as old as 51. "Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast" is the first novel of a series starring Beatrice, Aunt Maud, The Newshounds and the town of Dorsal Finn. The second novel, "Beatrice Beecham's Fete of Fate" will be out in spring 2008.
About the Author:
Dave Jeffery resides in Worcestershire, UK. He has worked in mental health care for 22 years, specializing in mental health and deafness. Jeffery has written numerous academic articles and a non-fiction book about his field of medical specialty. He is also working on a novel for young adults, "Finding Jericho" about his experiences in mental health. For more information, visit www.freewebs.com/davejeffery.
"Beatrice Beecham's Fearsome Feast" (ISBN 978-1847282934, Lulu, 2007) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. Publisher website: www.lulu.com. Publicity contact: www.readerviews.com. Review copies available upon request.
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