Welcome to USBUK — The Home of Paul Harrison’s Stories
Dive into a world where imagination sparkles with colour, history takes on a human face, and children’s dreams become stories. On this site you’ll discover two unique works by author Paul Harrison: Stephie’s Coloured Candle, a whimsical children’s adventure, and Young William, a reimagined glimpse into Shakespeare’s youth.
Paul Harrison’s path to storytelling is as varied as his books are imaginative. Once a mechanic, builder, manager and shopkeeper, he brings life’s richness into every page he writes. His seasoned perspective infuses his stories with depth, warmth and authenticity.
✨ Stephie’s Coloured Candle ✨
A magical children’s adventure full of colour, imagination and wonder. Written by Paul Harrison and beautifully illustrated by William Scott Artus, Stephie’s Coloured Candle is a heart-warming story that has already captured the hearts of children, parents and teachers alike.
🌈 Story Overview
Set many years ago near Barnsley, young Stephie (aged 9) dreams of making her own special candle from flowers and herbs in the garden. That night, her mother lights it in the window — and as each colour burns, Stephie is drawn into a new magical dreamworld.
- Red: Stephie slips underground, meets orphan boys turning wheels, and sees a giant whale beneath the ice with Ike Ice at the North Pole.
- Orange: She sings with Mrs. Hiccup on the roof of a wonky orange house.
- Yellow: She joins Clarence the yellow sand frog at a frog funfair before diving into a pond.
- Green: She surprises a cabbage pig and meets children picking endless rows of peas.
- Blue: She shrinks to discover Ting, the bluebell tester, and helps him tune the bells — before being chased by a giant stag beetle.
- Purple: Surrounded by heather, she meets the Time Weeper who explains the mysteries of “dreamtime.”
- Black & Brown: A spooky farmhouse and a rocket cake take her to the moon, where she is chased by paper people before returning home safely.
Each colourful world brings songs, adventures and gentle lessons about courage, curiosity, and wonder. Teachers have praised the story as both entertaining and educational — a perfect read for bedtime or classroom storytelling.
🎶 The story is so musical, the author has already written songs for each colour dream sequence — making it an ideal candidate for a children’s musical production!