Tain grandad opens fresh chapter as author
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A GRANDPA from Tain who has a book published for his twin grandchildren has now sold more than 500 copies.
Euan Mushet (67) wanted to write an illustrated storybook for two-year-olds Rose and Finn, and when he couldn't find a publisher - he printed the book himself.
Writing about the adventures of Callum the Clashfearn Bus has been a completely new endeavour for Mr Mushet, one he says he may be about to repeat.
Mr Mushet said: "I retired from the oil and gas industry to spend more time with partner who has MS. To keep me busy I took up driving again, something I had done earlier on in my career.
"I was listening to the radio one day as I was driving back from Skye. The programme was about a woman who was a writer. She said she wrote for her grandchildren, and I thought 'that is what I want to do'.
"My grandchildren had not long been been born and I wanted to leave something behind for them.
"It was one of those ideas that gets stuck in your head and it won't go away. "
After coming up with the concept for the books, and getting working with an illustrator, Mr Mushet hit a brick wall when he could not find a publisher.
He explained: "It was great to find an illustrator, Dave Hill, who I knew would I could work well with. But what was much more difficult was finding a publisher.
"Everyone said they liked the stories, but I was not a well-known enough face. Bearing in mind that all I wanted was to have a book as a keepsake for my grandchildren, I decided that I would need to find a way of getting it published.
"I decided to publish the book myself with a company called Troubador."
I am pleased with the result. The books are bright and colourful, and the illustrator has managed to put lots of extra details in the drawings.
Callum the Clashfearn Bus is not based on any geographical area in the Highlands, but readers might think that they see similarities with places in and around Tarbat, and perhaps Inverness.
Mr Mushet said: "The books have been really well received, and people are asking for the next ones in the series. I have a plan for about six books. My grandchildren love them, so we will see how things go in the future."
