A CHILDREN’S author who was born and grew up near Aberystwyth has released a series of picture and puzzle books “designed to stretch young minds”.

A former pupil at Ysgol Syr John Rhys, Ponterwyd, and Ysgol Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceri Clark, who now lives in Newport, has led an interesting and varied life. She has worked in a theme park in New Hampshire, USA, as an excursions assistant on a cruise ship, an administrative officer at the Ministry of Defence, and a librarian.

But Ceri, who graduated from Wolverhampton University with a degree in European culture and Italian studies, and later from Aberystwyth University with an MSc in information and library studies, has always loved to write, and said she was inspired by her upbringing.

Ceri told the Cambrian News: “I grew up in Ponterwyd — there wasn’t much to do there in the ’80s for kids so I used to go for long walks in the mountains and make up stories in my head.

“The Mabinogion was a big thing in our school. The stories were so different that they are still stuck in my head."

Over the past few years, Ceri has developed her work to include non-fiction and fantasy, and now Ceri has written a new series of story books with puzzles aimed at the pre-school level.

The Minkie Monster Series, which is published in five languages, including Welsh, features Space Puzzles: Minkie Monster and the Birthday Surprise, Under the Sea Puzzles: Minkie Monster and the Lost Treasure, and Ceri’s latest release, Christmas Puzzles: Minkie Monster Saves Christmas.

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