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Find out more about the author and illustrator behind the books
Robert Vestentoft was born in London in 1953 to an English mother and Danish father. He grew up in Beaconsfield in Bucks and was educated at The Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe. He qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1977 and is currently director/shareholder of a number of companies in the property and green energy sectors. He has two sons from a first marriage and Lives in East Sussex.
Helen Weir was bought up in England but has lived in South Africa and Zimbabwe. She still shares her time between these three countries, migrating with the seasons like the swallows in the story. She attended Chelsea College of Art and has exhibited in London. She has a daughter who lives in Zimbabwe.
This book was written very shortly after what would have been our first grandchild, who very sadly died at 7 months. I was not intending to write about that in any way and indeed the impetus for the writing was an agreement between 3 friends that we would each write a children's story. It was only when the book was nearing completion that I realised the star in the story was in fact the child. When faced with loss we can react in different ways and for me it was important to set what had happened in the context of seasons, which in the story are additionally marked by the arrival and departure of swallows.
Chestnut Tree House deals with children with life ending illness. They provide support in the community enabling families, where at all possible to stay in their own homes and they provide respite for the families when needed.
25% of the purchase price goes to support this charity.
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