Granny Bonebottom and the Nugglenoots

By Marnie Edwards

Granny Bonebottom and the Nugglenoots is set in Devon where familiar local landmarks play a central part in the story. Torquay’s famous rocky island, Thatcher Rock, becomes Nugglenoot Island where a group of aliens have set up their Earth home. But the Nugglenoots are in trouble and enlist the help of Granny Bonebottom and her five grandchildren.

Helping the Nugglenoots proves to be more challenging than anyone expected, and danger strikes from the outset. There is suspense and quite a few surprises in store for Team Nugglenoot, especially when they come face to face with devious Pirate Knuckles and his artful crew.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Oct 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398468467

Marnie Edwards

Sue Edwards has worked with children all her life. Her career as a primary school teacher started in 1975 in Sussex and continued in Oxfordshire after she married in 1977. In the classroom, story-time was always special – and at home, three young daughters loved Mum’s made-up stories the best! Since relocating in 2017, the Southwest has been Sue’s inspiration for writing. She now has an eager audience of five grandchildren, who have affectionately named her ‘Marnie’. They love seaside holidays in Devon, where Marnie has the perfect setting for her stories.

Book preview

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About the Author

Sue Edwards has worked with children all her life. Her career as a primary school teacher started in 1975 in Sussex and continued in Oxfordshire after she married in 1977. In the classroom, story-time was always special – and at home, three young daughters loved Mum’s made-up stories the best!

Since relocating in 2017, the Southwest has been Sue’s inspiration for writing. She now has an eager audience of five grandchildren, who have affectionately named her ‘Marnie’. They love seaside holidays in Devon, where Marnie has the perfect setting for her stories.

Helen Towrie

(Illustrator)

Helen is a member of the Sci-Art community and works at a science research facility. She uses her skills as an artist to communicate complex and niche science to a general audience. Outside of her professional scientific work, Helen is particularly interested in illustrating children’s fiction.

Dedication

Dedicated to my grandchildren:

Emma and Oliver

Toby and Jack

and April

Acknowledgements

With special thanks to my husband, Chris,

and our daughters,

Ruth, Rachel and Jessica

Marnie Edwards

Granny Bonebottom and the Nugglenoots

Illustrated by Helen Towrie

Copyright © Marnie Edwards 2022

The right of Marnie Edwards to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398468450 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398468467 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Granny Bonebottom and the Nugglenoots is set in the beautiful seaside town of Exmouth in East Devon with its sandy beaches and stunning coastal views down towards Torbay and beyond.

Look out across the sea from the top of the red cliffs and imagine pirates, smugglers and treasure!

But what if aliens came here too?

Map of the Coast showing Nugglenoot Island

Chapter 1

To Nugglenoot Island!

No one noticed the little boat slipping quietly out of the harbour. Slowly and silently, barely disturbing the sheltered water, she crept towards the sea. The ship’s dog stood, still as a wooden figurehead, riding proudly on the bow, his eyes wide and watchful. He knew this journey well, and he knew its secrets.

Gradually, Stargazer left the calm of the estuary behind and found the open water. When the young crew saw the sea, they became noisy with excitement, singing songs and joking about fights with pirates. All the while, the summer breeze blew stronger and the waves got bigger. The boat leaned over, Sniffer moved to a safer place and the children fell silent.

Tighten the sail, shouted Granny Bonebottom.

Toby pulled hard on the thick white rope and the boat began to move faster. Emma put her arms around April and held her tight while Ollie and Jack clung to the side, watching the bow dip and rise again. Stargazer cut through the waves, sending spray into their faces. The children didn’t know it, but they were heading southwest towards Nugglenoot Island.

Granny Bonebottom handed a telescope to Toby. Shout when you see land, she ordered, as he put it to his eye.

There was already something ahead. He waited a minute or two to be sure and then called out, Land ho!

Everyone turned to look; in the distance, they could just make out the shape of an island. As they got closer, they saw a large, mysterious rock where seabirds perched on craggy ledges. The island was steep on one side with a gentler slope on the other. There was nowhere to go safely