Warrington bookshop to launch disability awareness novel

'A Monster Tea at the Palace' is the fifth novel from the St Helens-born author Rebecca McDowell.

The children's book is centred around a tea party that takes place at Buckingham Palace, involving Her late Majesty the Queen, and the Loch Ness Monster.

Lorna Gray has illustrated the children's novel with images of the legendary Scottish creature (Image: Crumps Barn Studio)

During the illustration stage of the book, news reached the author, Rebecca, and the illustrator, Lorna Gray, of the Queen's death.

Rebecca, 29, said: "It was such a shock, and so sad."

The book is built on the idea that Nessie was the Queen's oldest friend, but the monster has a big secret that threatens to ruin the tea party.

The author said: "I wanted to celebrate a mythical figure from history, whilst acknowledging the Queen who was a wondrous pillar of constancy, love and duty.

"A tea party with the Queen and Nessie seemed like the perfect way to do both."

Rebecca McDowell has spent the past month with green hair to raise awareness for the movement disorder Dystonia (Image: Rebecca McDowell)

Rebecca lives with Classical Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which causes frequent joint dislocations, and she wanted to use the book to shed light on 'invisible illnesses.'

She said: "I wanted to tell a story which might explain why Nessie isn’t seen very much anymore.

"That is the wonder and joy of Nessie. She has always been so mysterious. But why?

"For me, it was quite easy to picture sitting down by her Loch and wonder what you would feed her if she came to tea?”

'A Monster Tea at the Palace' launches at Waterstones, in the Golden Square Shopping Centre, on Wednesday, October 26, between 11am and 1pm.