Bess Of Clara Vale News

We are excited to share that 'Bess Goes to School' will be Bess's next story book. This book will be written in collaboration with the wonderful pupils and staff at Hart Primary School here in Hartlepool and launch on World Book Day 2027. This will be part of my role as 'Patron of Reading' for the school. I am so very delighted to have been asked to take up this position and cannot wait to get started on our book. We cannot wait!!! ©image copyright Hart Primary Watch Bess's F

Christmas Book announcement..... We will be sending out our latest email update 3rd Sep. We hope to publish Bess At Christmas this year, ready for 1st of December Boxes or Christmas Eve Boxes, or indeed for Christmas day. At Bess HQ we don't use Amazon or on demand printing. I create all my books from scratch using pencils, paints, pen, iPad, digital technology and that includes desktop publishing to create book layouts. It is a long process (which I am having to learn as I g

Save The Date

'Meet The real Lizzie Lugs'

'Bess at The Beach' about to go to print.

'Bess at The Beach' about to go to print.

New book commissioned by charity

The First Bess Activity and Colouring Book Has Launched

Activity and Colouring Book 2 will launch August to go with the new Bess Goes to the Beach book!

Activity and Colouring Book to Go with the First Bess Book is About to Launch!

Bess Goes to the Beach is the second book in the Bess of Clara Vale series. This book follows Bess and friends as they go to the beach. It follows the same thoughtful presentation of the first book with calm storytelling and expressive watercolour illustrations. Once again Bess offers children a reassuring message: You are not broken. You are just different. You belong.

Come and support a local event in aid of Autism Parents Together. We will also have Bess’s next book available at this event and maybe even a few surprises!

It is always a great event. If you are in the area, come and see us! We will have Bess’s next book available here also and maybe even a few surprises!

Bess on the BBC

On our way up to the Scottish highlands today we stopped off for a wee photo opportunity with the inspiration for my books, the ‘real’ Bess of Clara Vale.

Lin Fidgin is interviewed by Gary Philipson for BBC Tees. She discusses her new book, Bess of Clara Vale. A book to help children and their peers understand difference and autism in an accessible way.

North Tees and Hartlepool Trust

Designing the Book Layout I use my watercolours and fine liners, and then Procreate to create my illustrations. I often use Canva too for composition and editing.

How Do I Develop a New Character? I start with an idea in my mind, or I may even have already written the story about them, giving them a particular set of physical characteristics.