Sam’s star shines brightly thanks to chart success

An Attleborough author who released his debut novel at the start of the month has seen it featured in Amazon’s top 50 best-selling mysteries and detective stories for children.

Sam Bartrum, 36, of Cedar Drive, released Finny’s Star, aimed at children aged between nine and 13, on February 2.

He said: “I always loved creative writing and, as a family, we read together every night.

“Having read hundreds of books with my children over the past few years, and loved doing so, it inspired me to try to write something myself that they would enjoy.

“My degree is in education studies and I passionately believe in the power of reading in shaping young minds. I wanted to write a story that excited the reader, as well as having a really positive message.”

The story follows Peter, a 13-year-old boy whose life is turned upside down by the death of his best friend, Finny.

Concerned about their son’s struggle to cope with the death, Peter’s parents take him away on holiday to a remote Scottish island and, despite his initial reluctance, Peter starts to enjoy it, helped in no small part by making a new friend who is intent on showing him the beauty of the island. However, it starts to become clear that not all is not as it seems.

The author hopes his eccentric, larger-than-life characters and study of how friends play an important role in our lives really comes across to his readers.

He said: “The book is a real story of triumph over adversity for the main character, Peter.

“Like all of us, he is so much stronger than he thinks and, without giving too much of the story away, surprises himself with what he is able to achieve.”

Mr Bartrum said his two children, William, eight, and Amelie Rose, five, as well as his wife, Ruth, were proud of his achievement in becoming an author and making it onto the bestsellers’ chart.

He said: “It was incredible to see the book in the chart alongside other writers I admire, such as Michael Morpurgo and Tom Fletcher.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of writing it and already have many exciting ideas for a second.”