Capturing the essence of dreams coming true (protagonist Ella dreams of becoming an astronaut) and being on the cusp of an adventure of a lifetime, Andrew Ashwin’s Drumendus offers its young readers (aged eight to twelve) the opportunity of planet-hopping space travel and the chance to unravel intriguing and dormant family secrets.
A delicious magical adventure that entrances from the outset, the author weaves into his space-travel tale not only his passion for music (he is a musician and music teacher) but a storyline that centres on its young protagonist facing adversity and the realisation that secrets are often part and parcel of family life.
Garnering consistent five-star reviews since its publication five months ago (October 2022), Drumendus will become an instant literary favourite amongst those for whom it was written, whilst hopefully also finding favour with educationalists keen to add it to school reading lists. Andrew has done many successful school visits since the book’s launch, with lots more in the diary. He has a growing social media presence too.
Synopsis:
A mysterious planet. A remarkable family secret.
And music . . . EVERYWHERE!
Blast off to the planet Drumendus with twelve-year-old Ella Crinkle and her best friend Freddie, on a homemade spaceship invented by brilliant and eccentric Aunt Belinda, the most famous astronaut in history.
Will Ella be able to face her fears and uncover the truth about her family's past? What other secrets will she uncover on this unexpected, musical adventure to the extraordinary purple planet?
The author says:
“The arts in all their forms should be a central to pillar in every child’s life. As a musician and music teacher, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of music countless times. I wanted to write a children’s adventure novel with music and sound running through it as central themes, and I hope to encourage readers to explore music further in their lives, perhaps joining a music group or even taking up an instrument.”
“As I’m sure many writers say, my children inspired me to write the novel! The plot grew from stories I’d tell my daughters when they were little. There was invariably singing involved in some form, on their insistence, as well as weird and whacky musical instruments that we’d invent together. The tales we came up with sparked many ideas for Drumendus, and I also wanted my hero to confront her fears in the face of huge adversity. The vastness of space has always fascinated me, and I was intrigued by the idea of a sibling planet to Earth that was easily reachable, but tantalisingly mysterious.”
Published by The Book Guild Publishing, Drumendus – Mission to the Drum Planet is available in paperback (£7.35) on Amazon at https://bit.ly/3TsMXr2
It is also available on the publisher’s website (£7.99) at http://bit.ly/3yLy9un
About the author:
Andrew Ashwin lives in rural Leicestershire with his wife and daughters, in a house full of books and musical
instruments. When he’s not daydreaming about Drumendus, he teaches singing, conducts choirs and performs
in concerts around the country. He is passionate about music education, and believes every child should have
the chance to experience the joy of music.
Website and Social Media Links:
Drumendus Book Club – www.drumendus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drumendus
Instagram: @Drumendus
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Drumendus/
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