Ex-Honiton shopkeeper has book published

A man who ran a shop in Honiton and lived in the town for more than 20 years has had a book published.

Austin Stack (55) and his wife Sara used to own Woolstack shop in Honiton. Sara was born in Colyton whilst Austin was born in Northern Ireland. They met in Exeter and have been married for more than 30 years.

Austin and Sara now live Plymouth, where Austin works as a care assistant at Derriford Hospital.

Austin has written a children's book called 'Dinner with Teddy'. The book is about a young child who is bored at home and decides to play with Teddy until dinnertime.

He told Nub News how he has always enjoyed writing stories and poems for his family: "Sara and I decided to approach some publishers with a few examples when my granddaughter Edith was born and several were interested.

"Dinner With Teddy is about a young child bored on a typical wet Wednesday afternoon with nothing to do, so they decide to play with Teddy until dinner time. The story came from my own children's experience, and it is an antidote to the perennial problem that parents have to deal with – 'I'm bored!"

"I'm really enjoying my first book and am looking forward to my next book which another publisher has expressed a interest in.

"One of the best things about having a new book is that a copy of the book has to be sent to the British library so I'll always have a book there for everyone to see."

Austin has donated several of his books to local nurseries, school and hospitals and says he has received excellent feedback. One primary school had a Teddy Bear's picnic in honour of the book and said that they were going to do the activity every year.

Dinner with Teddy is available for purchase from major booksellers now.