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Writing About Ballyyahoo

WRITING ABOUT BALLYYAHOO

little Irish town illustrating article about writing the Ballyahoo series of books by Grace Jolliffe

I started writing about Ballyyahoo when I moved to Galway some years ago.

I was inspired by the natural beauty of my new environment and quickly decided that this would be a fantastic setting for some new stories for children.

So I created Ballyyahoo – a fictional town hidden between the mountains and the sea.

I don’t reveal its exact location in the stories but when I am writing Ballyyahoo is everywhere I am.

What I love the most about writing these stories is that I get to combine my love of the outdoors with my love for writing magical fiction.

I really hope to inspire the kids who read these stories to go outside and explore the countryside or local parks.

ABOUT BALLYYAHOO

Ballyyahoo is a tiny town. It has got one Church, one pub, one school, one tiny police station and one rusty old post-box.

There’s only one shop; Kelly’s shop, which sells everything.

Kelly’s is also a post office and on Tuesdays, it’s a meeting place for the Ballyyahoo Squawk Bird Appreciation Society.

ANIMALS

Ballyyahoo has lots of animals. Not just ordinary ones like dogs, cats, horses, cows and tiny ponies.

There’s also a mad cow, a scary donkey, and a whole flock of squawking, squawk birds.

VISIT THE WORLD OF BALLYYAHOO

When you own a Ballyyahoo book you get to visit the wonderful world of Ballyyahoo – just by clicking the links in the eBook.

The site is packed with free stories, photographs, background information about the characters, animals, nature, and of course, the magic of Ballyyahoo.

Ballyyahoo – encourage your children to love nature.


STORIES FROM BALLYYAHOO

cover of Witch of Ballyyahoo by Grace Jolliffe - on a page about writing about Ballyyahoo - for childrenTHE WITCH OF BALLYYAHOO

A wickedly funny adventure story from Ballyyahoo.

Gerry’s bored being bored in Ballyyahoo.

Until he sees the future in a magic stone.

There’s a psycho-killer coming his way.

It’s up to Gerry to save the day.

But what can one boy do?

The Witch of Ballyyahoo might help, but will she come in time?

DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON.COM DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON.CO.UK

book cover for Christmas in Ballyyahoo on a page about writing Ballyyahoo stories for childrenCHRISTMAS IN BALLYYAHOO

A funny fantasy with witches and magic from Ballyyahoo.

Christmas in Ballyyahoo was going to be the best one ever until Santa and Rudolph show up on Christmas Eve.

Santa and Rudolph are not all they appear to be, and they have no intention of wishing anyone a happy Christmas, especially not anyone from Ballyyahoo.

The only thing they want to wrap up for Christmas is Kevin and Gerry!

Will Kevin and Gerry save Christmas? 

DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON.COM DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON.CO.UK

book cover for Maggie Many Cats and Other Stories by Grace Jolliffe. Writing Ballyyahoo stories for childrenMAGGIE MANY CATS & OTHER STORIES

Funny stories for children from the Ballyyahoo collection.

When a cat comes flying through Maggie’s window, Maggie must keep it secret

She thinks she’s going bonkers because surely cats can’t fly?

She can’t tell Sergeant Sid because he’s busy trying to arrest a donkey.

Biddy down the road might know, but then again she might just be a witch.

What’s Maggie to do when everything’s gone wrong in Ballyyahoo?

A set of funny adventure stories for children with witches, cats, donkeys and more from the magical town of Ballyyahoo.

DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON.COM DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON.CO.UK

 


Book cover for The Real Halloween by Grace Jolliffe. Writing Ballyyahoo stories for childrenTHE REAL HALLOWEEN

If you know Ireland you’ll know there are lots and lots of bogs.

It’s the same in Ballyyahoo.

But, there is a very big difference between the bog in Ballyyahoo and the rest of the bogs in Ireland, and it’s nothing to do with the turf.

You see the bog in Ballyyahoo is the scariest, darkest, foggiest bog in the whole of Ireland and even has its own haunted well – Dancer’s Well.

Someone who knows all about Dancer’s Well is a boy named Sean. Sean was never afraid of ghosts until his Grandad told him the terrifying tale of ‘The Real Halloween.’

DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON.COM DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON.CO.UK

I hope you enjoy these tales. Ballyyahoo is a constant source of inspiration for me, so there’s sure to be more stories from Ballyyahoo.

Best wishes

Grace

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