A local author is celebrating the recent publication of her second children’s novel.

Jane Burnard is a freelance writer, translator and editor who lives with her partner Gareth in the family home in Gwaun Cae Gurwen.

Jane has spent more than three decades working in children’s literature, before starting to write herself not long ago.

In 2021, Jane had her first book, a fantasy adventure story called The Thirty-third Owl, published for children aged between nine and 11.

The story was based in Wales, and focused on two children who are best friends – Rose and Ianto.

Jane said: “The story introduces the importance of the Welsh language, and it draws on one or two Welsh legends too.

“My aim in writing it was to show English-speaking children the richness and wonder of Wales.”

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Jane followed up with the success of her first story by writing a sequel, featuring the same characters and also both in the Welsh and English language.

The sequel, The Cry of the Red Kite, was published in October this year, and sees Rose and Ianto travel to the mythical land of Annwn and back.

Jane continued: “Both stories are inspired by the language, landscape, culture, myths and stories of Wales.

“Since coming to Wales, nearly ten years ago, I have learned the language and try to use it every day. The characters in my stories are local children who speak both English and Welsh, and this is reflected in the books.”

The Cry of the Red Kite is the second of the Rose and Ianto trilogy, as Jane is around a third of the way through her third and final book of the series.

While the saga has been written, Jane has also written picture books for Macmillan, also aimed at children.

An Arctic Story: The Animals of the Frozen North is an illustrated book which gives information to children while also telling a story to them, with a second in the series, A Coral Reef Story, coming out in the spring of 2023.