Slightly silly stories help charities

A new book – Seven Simple and Slightly Silly Stories by John Foley – has been published for charity and you may recognise the name of the author. He is one of the regular crossword compilers for The Connexion, John Foley.

Aimed at both adults and children, it is darkly witty and entertaining as it leads the reader into fantastical worlds. With fabulous drawings by artist Grant Cathro, it is an antidote to winter blues.

Priced at £6.99, all profits go to Macmillan Cancer Support and The Silver Line (a charity providing a helpline for elderly people). Both charities champion the importance of bonding and community when it comes to both our mental and physical well-being.

Prepare to meet a lonely cat who helps a mouse, arrogant ants and a cockroach who wants to befriend a human – and, along the way, discover the mayhem that unfolds when clothes come to life in the washing machine.

The book was inspired by John Foley’s time staying at the Copenhagen home of fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen and, as he is an actor, author and successful audiobook publisher, the stories are ideal for reading out loud.

Fellow actor Dame Siân Phillips said: “Neither simple nor silly but wise and witty, John Foley’s stories take us back (or is it forward?) into Fabulous territory, and Grant Cathro’s illustrations light the way. A great read in a venerable tradition!”

John Foley’s French-themed crosswords are a favourite with Connexion readers and offer, like Seven Simple and Slightly Silly Stories, a different view. The French-themed crossword and Parolles Bilingual crossword appear in each issue of The Connexion but are also online, here, where the pdf can be downloaded for free and printed out.