A former Lochgilphead resident has been published for the first time at the age of 81 with a children’s book about a flying saucer that visits the town and causes all sorts of mayhem.
Author Jim Thomson said the book, called There Is Going To Be Trouble In Tarbert, is about a flying saucer and a councillor in Lochgilphead “who blames everything on local people”.
He said the entertaining plot “escalates into a war of contrition”.
Jim was born in Campbeltown and now lives in Ayrshire, but he lived in Lochgilphead for most of the 1990s.
He said he had “tremendous fun” as he mischievously created the characters in the book, who may or may not be based on real people.
“I found writing this book a good source of pleasure,” said Jim. “It took about a month.”
Mr Thomson said he has written a series of children’s stories and he wanted to see how his first book is received before attemtping to publish the rest.
In the publicity for the book, Jim writes: “Lochgilphead is a proud town. It has the HQ of the council for Argyll, Bute and the Inner Hebrides sitting comfortably just out of town in the modernised Kilmory Castle.
“It has a front green with lovely views down to Ardrishaig and beyond. This is where they built the war memorial and next to that the public toilets and next to that the children’s paddling pool.
“There are also several public houses which play an important role in contributing to gossip and other, silly ideas.
“This story shows what can happen when people jump to conclusions about vandalism
and don’t realise that there is a flying saucer involved.”
About himself, Jim writes: “I used to work in Lochgilphead where this story is set. I took early retirement and went on to work for the local newspaper.
“I was also the chairman of the local football team. I am now fully retired and live in Irvine with my Chinese wife, Qing.
“My time is spent working and enjoying the garden and taking my boat out of Irvine Harbour and into the Firth of Clyde.
“I spend three months of the year in China.”
The book is published by Pegasus on the Nightingale imprint.