Guy is a gargoyle at Furness Abbey. He enjoys watching the monks go about their business, and at night, when the moon is up, he is able to fly with his many brothers. Then the abbey is destroyed by soldiers. Everything changes and Guy looks on folornly as his brothers are lost. Some are carted away or broken and others go into hiding. He becomes very sad and grumpy and won't talk to anyone. This goes on for many years until a little shrew decides to cheer him up... She makes him laugh and then he finds he can fly again and makes new friends. The friends then decide to help him find his brothers. They fly from place to place, meeting different animals along the way. They finally find the remaining gargoyle safe and sound at the Abbey Mill Cafe. Guy the Gumpy Gargoyle is a fantasy picture story about friends and feelings that uses the traditions of storytelling to encourage sharing stories. The beautiful, full-colour illustrations provide a stimulus for discussion and will inspire kids to speak and listen. The journey the characters take is descriptive and enables children to join in and predict the text. By turns funny and sad, it will appeal to young readers aged 3-7, who will be able to relate to Guy's feelings and emotions and empathise with them. Gill has been inspired by a variety of authors, including Alan Garner, C.J. Sansom and Barbara Erskine.

Author Biography

Gill Jepson is a teacher, an Adult Education trainer and works as a Community Education Manager at Barrow AFC. Now, as an author, she also freelances in schools, providing literacy and educational workshops. She has had a number of articles published, as well a short school history. Her first children's novel, Out of Time: The Secret of the Swan, was published by Matador in 2011.