A local children’s author has visited a mid Powys library to celebrate the launch of her latest book ‘Tornado Nine’.

Elaine Watkins visited Rhayader Library on Thursday 17 March and was joined by children from Rhayader Primary School, who listened to the author talking about her main characters – Malorie and her gang – and how they helped combat crime in their community.

Elaine also read extracts from ‘Tornado Nine’ and answered the children’s questions about her stories and how she came to write about the.

Lesley Fisher, Branch Librarian at Rhayader Library, said: “It’s always good for children to learn from published writers such as Elaine Watkins. Her stories help open up a world of imaginative fun and adventure, set in community similar to our own.”

Councillor Graham Brown, Powys County Council’s Cabinet member for Library Services, said: “We want children to realise that good writing can come from the things they see around them every day, from characters and events they observe. It would be a great outcome if some of our youngsters were inspired by this event to become young writers in the future.”

Elaine Watkins was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and now lives in Mid Wales. She has been writing children’s stories for about five years and poetry for fifteen years. She is married with two sons and seven grandchildren. ‘Tornado Nine’ published by Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.