“Sometimes, the voices from the past are yearning to be heard.”

So excited to be working with EK Books once again, to launch my much-awaited second book, Once, I was Loved.

Signing books at the Children’s Bookshop Beecroft.

An old toy rabbit finds himself in a box of toys donated to charity. “But it wasn’t always this way,” Tock reflects sadly, “Once, I was loved.”

From World War II to Rock ‘n’ Roll, from the Moon Landing to the Hippie Movement and the birth of the Internet, this is the story of the children who loved Tock across the decades.

A celebration of the timelesss nature of love set against the backdrop of iconic moments of the 20th century, this heart-warming story will resonate with anyone who has ever cherished a childhood toy.

As for the idea behind Once, I was Loved, well as usual, it came to me when I least expected it.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being fascinated by toys. They call to me.

Despite Bill’s appearance, he will always be my favourite toy.

I’ve always been fascinated in Op Shops and as I wandered the cluttered aisles, I ponder the stories behind so many pre-loved treasures. An old wooden rocking horse, a retro metallic robot, and a china-faced doll were all looking for new homes. As I sorted through the toy box, questions started tugging at my sleeve: How many children had these toys loved… and lost? What iconic moments in history had they seen? Whose hands – and hearts – had they held?

And the seed for Once, I was Loved was planted.

If you ask, most adults will freely – though somewhat sheepishly – admit to still owning a cherished childhood toy. I love that. After all, toys are a gentle reminder of the child in us all.