Author Stephen Frye is launching his book Our Accidental Letters with a book signing at Oliver’s in Haslemere this Sunday (September 18) at 3.30pm.

Stephen’s book is raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, and comprises short, local nature-related fictional stories for children and their families to read together.

The stories are wrapped within 13 genuine letters sent to a family in south London throughout a calendar year. Each letter is accompanied by original colour photography, original illustrations, and family activities and quizzes for the whole family to enjoy.

This idea for a book came about by accident when Stephen had to write a grovelling apology letter to the children explaining why he couldn’t keep an unrealistic promise he’d made some months before in an effort to try to make up for the disappointment. All is explained in the book.

The stories were handed from family to family and it was suggested Stephen should bring the letters together in a book to help the charities.

He said: “The children’s stories are gentle, fictional adventures and experiences taking place in our local natural world, some even in the back garden and indoors.”

It is available at The Haslemere Bookshop, Wheeler’s Bookshop in Midhurst, Petworth Bookshop and the Blue Bear Bookshop in Farnham.