Holt author Jess French releases debut children's book

Alongside working as a vet, Dr Jess French, from Holt, presented Mini Beast Adventure with Jess on the children's TV channel CBeebies, and BBC Radio 4's Wild Inside. 

Her new book - Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain – tells the story of three children who go on an adventure outside of their city walls and into the Beastlands, meeting all sorts of fantasy creepy crawlies along the way. 

Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain is out today.

Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain is out on January 18 (Image: Jess French)

"I’ve been thinking about this fantasy world for 15 years and I’m so excited to now welcome others in," Dr French said. 

"I’ve been in this world on my own with all these incredible beasts - it's been so much fun to write."

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Author Jess French (Image: Jess French)

She said the book was inspired by her experiences of growing up with insects, invertebrates and reptiles.

Her dad, Martin French, owns The Bug Parc in Lenwade - an invertebrate zoo which grew from his hobby and passion for all things creepy-crawly. 

In 2020, Mr French bought five acres of land to build the zoo - turning his dream into reality. 

Martin French, owner of The Bug Parc Lenwade (Image: Steve Adams)

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"He’s had his bug collection since I was four or five years old," Jess said. 

"The only place for the weird and wonderful creatures was my bedroom, so I was used to sharing my room with tarantulas and scorpions - that was the normal for me.

"Together we had a shared interest and I had none of the learned or acquired fear because I was living with them every day. 

Jess French (Image: Jess French)

"I think the message in the book is the natural world is not to be feared.

"There’s so much magic to be had in nature."