The story of a much-loved family pet provided inspiration for a Barnard Castle woman to not only write her first children’s book, but to illustrate it as well.
Leah Hobson, from St Mary’s Close, couldn’t help but smile at the launch of her book, The Cat Who Lost His Socks, at McNabs Bookshop in Barney recently, when scores of people turned up to support her.
The book, based on a true story, about Benson, a long-haired cat she fostered and ultimately adopted.
The personal image and declutter coach, said: “Benson lived at Number 33 The Bank and his parents had to go abroad and so he came to live with us. The story was first told by my friend Rachael Tutungi, Benson’s original owner, and the book is based on that story.”
Mrs Hobson, who has been suffering the effects of long covid since contracting the virus in early 2020, added: “Rachael told me the story many years ago and last year, as a bit of fun I made it into a book for her at Christmas. It was Rachael who suggested I should make it into a real book.”
Determined to make it a reality, Leah joined Barnard Castle Writers Group and with support from other members, and especially that of her husband Mark, the paperback version of The Cat Who Lost His Socks, hit the bookshelves last week. The first copy was bought by someone traveling back home to Canada.
Mrs Hobson said: “Benson had white paws and he goes up the chimney. When he comes down, he can’t find his white socks. He looks high and low for them, until he takes a moment to sit and think and decides to have a wash.”
She said: “I have always worked in the creative industry but I have never illustrated or written like this. I got myself an iPad and started doing digital illustrations.
“One of the reasons I made the book is because I have not been well enough to do anything else and I could write and sketch from home.”
In addition to illustrating and writing the book Mrs Hobson has set up her own publishing company, simplyLeah Publishing and already has other animal related stories available to read in pdf format on her website including The Busy Mouse, The Great Donkey Escape and the Monsters and the Mouse.
Mrs Hobson said: “Each fable is based on animal characters I meet around the town; the three donkeys live opposite The Bowes Museum and the little white mouse was seen in the graveyard.”
The lesson revealed in The Cat Who Lost His Socks is about how, when we stop frantically searching, we will come to know what is the next best step. “Our wisdom within will reveal the answer,” she added.
l The Cat Who Lost His Socks is available for sale from McNabs Bookshop or visit simplyleah.co.uk/publishing where you can order a book to collect in person or select paperback and postage for delivery within the UK. An ebook version is available to buy on Amazon.
