Author inspired by former Hucknall cafe set release latest children's book

Keith Cutts, who writes under the pen name Cutzy, from Rise Park, published his first book of children’s stories, called Sweet Enough, after creating characters and stories in his head while regularly visiting The Sweet Cafe on High Street in Hucknall.

Keith and his late wife used to go in the Sweet Cafe regularly several years ago and the jars of sweets there was what got him thinking about the stories.

But while the cafe has now gone, Keith’s talent for writing children’s books is still going strong and after publishing two books about the character Sweet Enough, he has now taken a new direction for his latest work, Benjamin's Brilliant Journey, which is out on December 4.

He said: It’s different to the other two, this is about an 11-year-old boy who doesn’t like his new school he’s had to move to because his dad has got a new job.

"He gets through various adventures and then his family decide to send him to his grandma’s and then things get worse and all manner of adventures ensue and everything starts happening to him.

"It’s aimed at nine to 11-year-olds and it’s just about those kids who don’t enjoy school so much and the things they get up to as a result.

"I was sitting there one day and the idea of doing a book like this one just came to me.”

Keith says the book was not based on his school days, although he added: “Perhaps I should have, it would certainly have been interesting if I had.

"All kids at some point in their lives have that day when they think ‘I wish I didn’t’ have to go to school today’ and this is about one of them and how things go for him.”

As with his previous books, the illustrations for this new one have again been done by Keith’s granddaughter.