I love creating a new world through
writing, and if I can illustrate it, even better! 

Since I was a child, I have loved
writing and drawing. I would arrive home from school and continue writing my
latest story, accompanied by illustrations. 

I was never short on ideas, and I’d
often start a story, then move on to my next big idea. I still have many of
these stories today. But what was extra magical was when
my love for writing and my passion for travelling with children collided. That
had so much power and momentum that I was swept away! The result was the first
in the series, The Travelling Stone – France. 

It follows the main character, Piper,
as she discovers a special stone that can take her anywhere in the world. This
stone transports her and her brother, Lachie, to the cobblestone streets of
Paris. Many adventures await the two children in France, including visiting the
Eiffel Tower, tasting delicious pastries, and meeting a puppeteer! Piper and
Lachie make new friends, speak French, and solve problems along the way.

The Travelling Stone – France, was inspired by our travels around the world while
we worldschool our two children. Worldschooling is a growing educational
movement where the world is your classroom. We value the real-life learning
that travelling brings us, and since they were babies, our children have been
jumping on planes, boats, and canoes! We love experiencing new places and see
it as a rewarding way to spend quality time together and educate our
children. 

A by-product of this lifestyle has
been the immense wonder and awe I feel towards our planet, inspired by watching
my children enjoy it. Seeing the world through children’s eyes motivated me to
create a series of illustrated chapter books, giving all children access to the
diverse beauty of each country that Piper and Lachie visit. Through whimsical
illustrations and descriptive prose, I transport the reader to the various
locations in the book. 

The first in the series, set in
France, mirrors our journey through Paris and Colmar when our children were
young. Many of the landmarks and characters within the story are inspired by
real events. In writing The Travelling Stone series, I hope to inspire
both young and old to travel the world and see each new experience with
child-like wonder. It is the perfect book to share with your children or
grandchildren.

Since she was young, Michelle has been writing and illustrating for her own enjoyment. A former teacher, now a mother of two, she draws inspiration from her family travels as they explore the world while educating their children.

In writing The Travelling Stone series, Michelle hopes to inspire both young and old to travel the world and see each new experience with child-like wonder. Michelle loves breakfast buffets, finding a good bookshop and anything to do with Christmas!

For more information visit The Travelling Stone website or follow Michelle on Instagram.