Matty-boy and the Secret Pigeon Racket.

New Website!

nitajoy — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:35:22 +0000

I would like to announce that Matty-boy and the Secret Pigeon Racket has got a new website and is now live!

For further information about the book and suggestions for help if you are affected by bullying please take a look at

www.areyoubeingbullied.com

We look forward to seeing you there :0)

Latest News

nitajoy — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:22:44 +0000

My blog has been a little silent of late as I have been working hard on the final edits as my book goes through the publishing process.

It has been a long journey, but a worthwhile one!

As well as concentrating on my children’s novel, I have some extra exciting news of a dedicated website to the subject of bullying and my book.

I am putting resources and contacts together as well as some helpful, positive suggestions on how to cope if you are being bullied.

My hope is that my book will be available to buy sometime in March and my website should be live in the next couple of weeks.

Many thanks

what helped you when you were bullied?

nitajoy — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:40:42 +0000

One of the main reasons I wrote my Children’s book -

Matty-boy and the Secret Pigeon Racket

was to encourage the reader to tell someone if they are being bullied.

I also hope to promote my blog as a place of safety, a place of sharing of ideas to help one another. For when life feels like it is falling apart for one reason or another we all need a place that encourages us, a place where we can be reminded that situations can change, even in our darkest hour.

I was reminded of a great quote that I read on another blog about friendship:-

’ A real friend is the one who walks in, when the rest of the world walks out.’

(Author of Quote – W. Winchell (1897-1972) (Thanks for the reminder mmath)

Each of us are in different situations, maybe you are fortunate in that you are close to your family and/or have some fantastic friends, or maybe your relationships with your family and/or friends are broken in one way or another.

When you are in the situation of being bullied in whatever form that may take, all of the things that seemed sure and strong can often feel distant and muddled.

Growing up, brings along so many new challenges and sometimes confusing experiences, you may begin to question who you are, what you want in life… pressures of school and so on…

If we can find true friends to share our lives with, the once heavy burden, can be lifted.

When you feel that no one understands, that you are the only person in the world who is going through this and you don’t know the way out, there are many organisations who can enable you to walk through the dark valley onto a lighter path.

In one of my other posts supporting anti-bullying week, I have listed several organisations who can give excellent support and advice. If you feel unable to talk to a family member or a friend about your experience of bullying, then I would suggest contacting one of the organisations. Childline is also there for you 24/7.

As anxiety deepens and goes around and around in our heads the situation will often feel like it’s a prison. It doesn’t need to be, there are many people – Your School, charities, churches etc…who are waiting with a key, to open the door and lead us through.

No one deserves to be bullied, we are all different and special, each with our own talents and gifts.

Throughout our lives we often need a helping hand at some point. If this is hard for you, sit still (I like to be out among the trees, or a beautiful meadow) place your hand on your knee and slowly hold your hand out like you are reaching out to hold someone’s hand, maybe picture an occasion when you felt secure and free of worry, repeat this as many times as you need. I used this technique many times when I felt insecure. It’s okay to ask for help, it isn’t weak to ask for help. A part of human nature is to be in community, to be with each other and offer help to one another. Over the years if I have been able to help someone, it has been a real blessing as they have put their trust in me.

In Matty-boy and the Secret Pigeon Racket, Matt is bullied at School, we can see the various turmoils that he goes through in whether to tell someone what is happening to him. How about going on the journey with him… what choices did he make…?

Each of us have choices in life… at one time in my life I felt that choices were restrictive, often more of a problem rather than something to treasure, as I felt that I had no choices – but I did. I could either suffer in silence or share with someone and enable the situation to change.

Maybe you have been bullied in the past… What helped you when you were being bullied? Where did you go for help? What do you know now that you wish you had known at the time?

There is a wonderful purpose and plan for each of us, let’s not miss the incredible adventure that is called – life…

Book Cover design by Sarah Miskelly

nitajoy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:27:25 +0000

Sarah Miskelly at http://www.miskellaneous.co.uk

Designed the book cover of Matty-boy and the Secret Pigeon Racket for me.

She understood the design needs for the childrens book and delivered a fantastic cover for me.

Please check out her work.

She comes highly recommended.

Sarah specializes in high quality illustration and graphic design.

You can see the book cover here

The book- when and where can I buy a copy?

nitajoy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:02:09 +0000

If you would be interested in buying a copy of Matty-boy and the Secret Pigeon Racket, please leave a comment and I can contact you when it’s available.

Join our rss feed

Come back soon and we will publish a comment on when it’s available to buy with the details of where you can buy it.

Excerpt of Matty-boy and the Secret Pigeon Racket

nitajoy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:46:34 +0000

The garden was full of pigeons! The sight would have made anyone’s heartbeat freeze. There were some on the shed roof, some on the patio furniture. There were also some sitting on upturned pots and the wheelie bin. The scariest of all visions, was a line of pigeons wearing black cowboy hats lining the telegraph wire. In the middle of the garden was a large pigeon wearing a dinner jacket surrounded by three muscley pigeons. Matt gulped. The S.P.R started cooing on cue as one of the ‘muscles’ put his wings up. Then there was silence.

Matt drew breath again, he had to keep calm.

“I want to talk to Percy, sorry, Jethro’s dad.”

The pigeon with no name took one final hard stare and stood to one side as he beckoned to one of the heavies to bring the ‘boss’ over.

Now there were four S.P.R members sitting on his windowsill. Matt rubbed his eyes to check that what was happening was actually real.

Matt stood up tall he wanted them to know that he meant business. No name spoke again. “I want to introduce to you, the mighty, the wonderful…”

“Be quiet!” Percy’s dad moaned. No name backed away.

Percy whispered to Matt. “He’s known as ‘The Don’.”

The Don spoke. “Where is…my son?” His voice was like a clap of thunder.

Percy crept around the side of the curtain. “I’m…here…dad!”

Matt held Percy for protection as he froze to the spot.

“You made me sad son, you made me sad. Don’t I deserve respect for being the head of the family… head of…the organization?”

Percy cowered in Matt’s hand.

“You can’t talk to him like that. Jethro deserves a little respect too.” Matt wasn’t going to let them intimidate him or Percy.

All the pigeon’s took a collective sharp intake of breath, at the cheek of someone answering back to The Don.

“Why did you run away? It brought shame to the family…” One of The Don’s eyes had an uncontrollable twitch.

“Jethro ran away because he didn’t feel accepted for…who he is. That’s why he ran away, Mr. Don.” Now it was time for Matt to glower.

No name sniggered. “Well, he’s hardly a hard pigeon is he?”

Everyone joined in laughing under their breath.

“Look Mr. Don, Jethro… who I know as Percy, is faithful, trustworthy and a good friend. He is staying with me. You can visit, but he’s staying here, where he’s loved and cherished for who he is. I won’t take NO for an answer!”

The Don took a step back. “No one, NO ONE, has EVER spoken to me like that before. No one…would have the nerve.”

There was silence. Matt felt the chill down his spine again. Had he gone too far with The Don?

The boss of S.P.R took a long, hard look at Matty-boy before turning to face Percy.

“You can’t desert us for one of our enemies Jethro!”

Percy was getting annoyed. “Matty-boy is not our enemy, he is my friend!” Percy had never stood up to his dad before.

“Yes, that’s right sir. I’m not your enemy. I took Percy in because he had broken his wing.”

There was another few seconds of silence. The Don was clearly thinking as his beak was moving, just like Percy’s did.

“Most pigeons don’t stand up to me. They’re too scared!” The Don turned around as he looked over his dominion. “You get my respect.”

Anti-bullying week 17th- 21st November

nitajoy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:58:31 +0000

National anti-bullying week

Here is a list of organisations who can give you support and help.

anti-bullying week

Go here for ideas, support, posters, anti-bullying resource dvd

Anti-bullying Alliance

Lots of resources, information and links

Victim support’s young people website:-

Are you ok

Kidscape

Bullying UK

I am not affiliated or have a contract with any of these organisations.

Matty-boy and the Secret Pigeon Racket Story

nitajoy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:51:35 +0000

Matty-boy and the secret pigeon racket

Children’s book for 8-12 years old

Here is some infomation about my book -

Matty-boy and the secret pigeon racket

Ever wished you could be a rock star?

Ever day dreamed about your team winning the cup or the league?

Ever wished that something magical would happen to you?

Matt is a lonely young boy, who uses his imagination to cope with the challenges in his life on a daily – if not hourly – basis.Matt has been fostered into an eccentric new family the Joy’s, and has to change his home, school and friends once again. At the joy’s he discovers and befriends Percy a scruffy, injured talking pigeon who has run away from his own family – the pigeon mafia – also known as the Secret Pigeon Racket.

Together they deal with issues of friendship, bullying, family and loss – and solve a royal kidnapping plot too!

Have you ever noticed a pigeon spying on you? No? Well take a closer look, you may be surprised!!!