Photo: Lucy Miles-Barnes with A Christmas Wish.
The arrival of identical twin nieces Lilah and Posie in 2020 inspired Lucy Miles-Barnes to turn her childhood dream of writing children’s books into a collection of woodland adventures. Now her Christmas picture book, A Christmas Wish, has been published with a special family tribute.
Written and illustrated by Lucy, the book is part of her Twin Tails series and follows twin mouse sisters Lulu and Pop. On Christmas Eve, they make a wish on a star. A tiny letter leads them into the snowy woods, where Father Mousemas has a surprise waiting.
Aimed at children aged four to eight, the story celebrates sisterhood, kindness and Christmas magic. The real twins behind the inspiration are now six and live in Whitstable with their mum, Lucy’s sister Laura Miles.
Lucy said: “The inspiration behind the Twin Tails series came with the arrival of my twin nieces in 2020. Having dreamed of writing children’s books since I was a little girl, I wanted to create something truly special: a collection of heart-warming stories that offer comfort, joy and a little magic in a world that can sometimes feel challenging.”
Inspired by nature and woodland animals, Lucy’s stories explore kindness, courage, strength and compassion through gentle adventures. Each Twin Tails story stands alone, so families can enjoy the books in any order.
The publication date, 11 November 2026, carries particular meaning for the family: it would have been their Nanny Miles’s (Dorothy) 95th birthday. A tribute to her appears at the back of the book.
Lucy and Laura also run Salt Dog Studios, the Whitstable business through which Lucy’s illustrations appear on pet accessories, greeting cards and colouring books. The new storybook brings that artwork to a young audience.
A Christmas Wish (Twin Tails) is available on Amazon, priced £7.99. Families ordering directly from Salt Dog Studios can choose a copy signed by Lucy, with an optional personal dedication, and receive a free nine-page printable Christmas activity pack featuring her original Lulu and Pop artwork. The A4 pack includes colouring and drawing activities, a Christmas wish page, a wordsearch, a kindness challenge and a special note from Father Mousemas.
Book information and buying links: www.saltdogstudios.co.uk/pages/a-christmas-wish
Enquiries:
Laura Miles | Salt Dog Studios
hello@saltdogstudios.co.uk
Gallery:
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