As today is publication day for ‘Winter Snowfall at Elder Fell Farm’ I’d like to introduce you to the characters. Or rather, I’ll let them introduce themselves!

Matt: I’m Matt. I’m Oliver’s dad, and also Amy’s partner. All I really want is a quiet life and for my lad to be happy. He’s had such a lot of problems in the last few years, after his mum died, and I just want to make things easier for him. If that means sacrificing my own peace of mind so that he can be happy then that’s what I’ll do. Amy will understand. Amy always understands, that’s why I love her so much.

Amy: I was very unhappy before I met Matt. Everything seemed to be going wrong – first my marriage disintegrated and then my mam died. James, my ex, always said I was too soft and I was starting to believe him. But my son Harry kept me going – even though he can be a bit naughty sometimes, he always makes me smile. But meeting Matt made me feel as if life could be good again. He gives me the strength to be myself knowing that he’s got my back. 

Harry: I am very nearly nine years old and I’m the best at sports in this house. I can run the fastest of everyone. Oliver is my best friend, though sometimes he can be dead annoying, especially when he doesn’t want to play. I love stories, though I don’t like reading them. Mam reads the best stories, and Matt’s quite good too. I liked the Titty book which we read on holiday last year. Dad thought it was something rude, but it’s not, it’s just about a girl called Titty who sails boats and has adventures. That’s the best thing about the Lake District, having adventures. I hope me and Olly are going to have some adventures this time!

Oliver: I am nearly ten years old because my birthday is in November and Harry’s is in May so he’s nearly a WHOLE YEAR younger than me, really, even though we’re in the same class at school. I’m the best student in our whole class and sometimes I help Harry, but not if he’s being irritating. I think Harry benefits from having me around to set a good example of how to behave. That’s what all the teachers say. I’m looking forward to Christmas because I’ve got the lead part in the school play. I’m going to be The Elf that saved Christmas, and I’m really excited – and a bit scared too. Perhaps Harry’ll help me because he’s not scared of anything.

Diane: I am Oliver’s grandmother, Diane. His mother, Stella, was my daughter. Since she died … well, never mind that. I like to keep positive. God moves in mysterious ways, as they say. Oliver has been my whole world since Stella .. since she … I’m very fond of him. And Matt has been a very good son-in-law, and I feel a certain responsibility for him. He’s vulnerable, you see, a grieving widower, he’d be the ideal target for the wrong sort of woman. I just want to make sure that Oliver isn’t hurt any more, if anything happened to him I’d … 

Peter: The farm has been in my family for generations, but I’ll be the last of the Thompsons at Elder Fell. An only son, I never married. Never cared to, not since I lost Jen, Amy’s mam, the only woman I ever loved. I asked her to marry me, but she said no. Of course, I understood it. She didn’t feel she could move to Elderthwaite, didn’t feel it would be fair on her daughter. I’m a sheep farmer, first and last, I could never be owt else. Hefted to the land, that’s me, like my dad before me, and his dad before him.