Press

“MY FAVOURITE THINGS
…. What is your philosophy of life?
Do not let go of your dreams: I have (on and off) pursued the dream of becoming a successful writer since I was eight….
Dog or cat person?
Very much a cat person. Our current cat, Twiglet, is the great nephew of Snuggle – the hero of my Ramion children series….
What/who couldn’t you live without?
My wife Susan: a constant source of inspiration.”

Kent & Sussex Today Dec.2005 - Jan 2006

“Swords of Ramion     9 out of 10
This lavishly illustrated adventure book contains four lovely tales. Lots of grizzly gunging will appeal to boys particularly, as will the rip-roaring pace of the adventures. Subtle the stories are not, but that will help keep younger readers hooked. The illustrations, in full colour, are beautiful in a naïve sort of way. The author is not an accomplished artist, but the simplicity of the pictures won’t matter for readers of this age – they show eloquently what the text says in words….. this is an excellent book that has lots of appeal.”

Readers’ Review Magazine Autumn/Winter 2005

“Author back in classroom
A successful local author of children’s books had a whole primary school captivated last week when he read out action-packed extracts from his latest title…..
Headteacher, Jim Hayward, added: “Frank has been an excellent friend of the school over the years and the children were enthralled when he visited. He told one of his stories in an incredibly animated way, using different voices and acting out the characters. He led the children into an imaginary world of adventure and the children loved it.”

Sevenoaks Chronicle 24.11.05

''Self publishing - fulfilling one's destiny
At the London book fair in 2003 the first visitor to my stall was a Korean literary agent, Jeffrey Kim : he only spent a few seconds looking round the stall but as a result of his efforts the Korean translation rights for the first series were bought by Marubol Publishing.  Jeffrey Kim recently sent me the CV of his agency naming a selection of the authors whom they represent : Che Guevara, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Umberto Eco, Virginia Wolf, Frank Hinks!  I have yet to make my fortiune from books, but in such distinguished company who knows what 2006 may bring?  Through self-publishing I may yet fulfil my destiny.''

Readers' Review Magazine Autumn/Winter 2005

''Frank Hinks QC turns to writing for children
It's not that unusual for lawyers to turn to the pen and we have recent examples from the United States, not to mention our own John Mortimer with his excellent screen adaptations and creation of Old Bailey hack Rumpole.  But we don't have many who turn to children's stories, illustrate them beautifully and self-publish them.  Such a man is m'learned friend Frank Hinks QC, who despite the colourful gear in our picture, is as much at home in the pinstripes, gown and wig of chancery.....''

Writers' Forum November 2005

''Swords of Ramion
Pages of text are matched with full page illustrations, again produced by Hinks.  The stories can be read to, or with, a child and the book can quite easily be left with the child who can immerse themselves in this quirky world, looking at the pictures and in time tackling the text.''

Parents and Kids 26.10.05

''Swords of Ramion
I like these stories as they have me giggling while I read them to my children....My two boys (4 and 8) are always quiet and listening when I read these stories to them, which is unusual as they are generally easily distracted.....I think that one of the reasons my boys like the stories so much is because they are like something they would make up for themselves.  Overall this is a great book for my sons a little scary (for younger kids) but as Snuggle always saves the day and the boys (and sometimes their dad) always get home safely for their tea.  I think that older kids could also love to read these stories themselves as they are funny, full of adventure and very fast paced.''

ForParentsByParents 24.10.05

''Lucy proves she is top of the class
The 10-year-old from Hamilton Road won a complete set of books by author Frank Hinks, who came along to Skinner Street School to present them and read a few stories in a special assembly.  Head teacher Julia Tucker said : ''All the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were transfixed by the story Frank read to them.'...''

Medway News 21.10.05

''SMALL SCHOOL SUCCESS
Realm of Ramion books competition winner Cameron Brown, an avid reader of Frank Hinks' books, is a pupil of Ponthir VC primary School.  Cameron's prize included a duplicate set of Frank Hinks' books for his school, which are proving very popular!....''

Primary Times Newport and Monmouthshire 17.10.05

''Author's tales to the children
.....Mr Hinks said: ''I am getting a lot more press interest now and it is all very exciting.  I had a great ambition to be a writer when I was about eight or nine and I never lost that ambition when I was practising law.  When my children were born, I had an audience that would actually listen to my stories and in a sense they created them with me.''

Medway Standard 11.10.05

''Swords of Ramion
 ...Each tale is full of adventure and intrigue that will keep kids and parents excitedly turning the pages until the very end!''

Lincolnshire Today : Yorkshire Today  October 2005

''How do you get boys to enjoy reading?
 One author for boys is barrister Frank Hinks who created his world of Ramion when he couldn't find enough books to keep his three sons entertained.  There are now three collections including the latest Swords of Ramion..... ''Boys tend to regard narrative and description as padding which gets in the way of a good story,' says Hinks.  ''They also have very short attention spans so you have to draw them in from page one.  Boys don't have any less imagination than girls, but maybe it just takes something a little different to stimulate it.'....''

 Sunday Express 9.10.05

''Swords of Ramion
 Classic tales of good and evil as the misnamed cat Snuggle battles with the witch Griselda : for parents and children to share and older children to read for themselves....''

The Guardian 1.10.05

''Stories boys can relate to
Frank's Ramion series is aimed at five to 10 year-old boys, a hard market to crack, as many boys are reluctant to sit down with a book.  ''I feel there aren't enough books produced for young boys.  I hope Swords of Ramion will get boys interested in reading once again.  It is a collection of stories they will be able to relate to and get really involved in.''

Bromley Extra 30.9.05

'' 'I want to get boys reading'

Author says give boys books they'll enjoy not what feminists think they should read
A children's author is publishing his third book aimed mainly at boys who ''do not want to get in touch with their feminine side.'....The tales are derived from bedtime stories he told his son and are accompanied by Hinks's own illustrations.  He said: ''My son wanted a different story every night.  He would give me one sentence and I'd have to go.  I know [the stories] work for boys, although I do get some nice letters from girls too.  One little girl said she liked the wicked witch's evil ways.'  But the author's main focus is getting boys interested in reading.''

Bromley Times 29.9.05

''Literary genius
....The illustrations are certainly striking - and his work is peopled by all sorts of strange and wonderful beings.  Still, if you ask our opinion, it doesn't quite reach the literary heights of his seminal work ''International Trusts Litigation : the Impact of Costs.''

Legal Week 22.9.05

''Bedtime stories that started a new career
Getting young boys to read is often something of a chore.  Harry Potter has helped, but before he arrived to capture a new generation, Shoreham author and QC Frank Hinks came up with an idea which made readers of his three sons and started him on another career....''

Sevenoaks Chronicle 4.8.05

''Step into The Realm of Ramion
 ....Each story is beautifully written and illustrated by Frank Hinks with a distinctive style.  Each fantasy plot unfolding to hold the imagination of any young reader ...''

ABC Summer Issue July 2005

''The Ramion collection
 Realm of Ramion is fast-paced, fun and absorbing.  The Ramion stories are particularly suitable for those aged 5-10, but are for all who are young at heart....''

Primary Times East Kent 4.7.05

''Bring on the really yuck books
When the barrister Frank Hinks couldn't find enough storybooks to keep his three boys entertained, he decided to make up his own.  Luckily, a recession in the Chancery division allowed him to write them down and the Land of Ramion was born, complete with its leading character Griselda the Grunch and her assorted assistants : the three dim, daft dwarves (who pick their noses) and Boris the skull.

What's different about the books is that they are quite deliberately aimed at boys : there is almost no description and no analysis of what a character is thinking or feeling.  Instead, the reader gets a fast-paced ping-pong of dialogue and plenty of stomach-churning action : falling into voids and steaming cauldrons are pretty much guaranteed.  There is also a satisfyingly high ''yuck'' quota : little boys who get drenched in sewage and maggots, hairdryers that spit out flames, slugs that talk and a 100ft snake that burps, with unfortunate consequences....''

Daily Telegraph 25.9.04

''Harry Potter it isn't
...A survey of barrister's Websites last week heaped praise on Mr Hinks' very own personal site, home to an abundance of children's stories, all penned and illustrated by the man himself....Harmless fun you may say - but the plot of the author's personal favourite could have a frightening effect on the next generation's manners.  Two boys stuck in the forest repel globerous ghosts, mystic mummies and venomous vampires by doing things which the monsters don't like, such as - of all things - picking their noses.  A handy trick for repelling girls, too, Obiter recalls.''

Law Society Gazette 29.4.04

''Realm of Ramion
Believing that boys will be enthusiastic about reading if they associate books with pleasure rather than duty Frank brings us Realm of Ramion, an imaginative world where anything can happen and, invariably does.....  Realm of Ramion is fast-paced, fun and absorbing....''

ForParentsByParents 9.3.04

''Author-ly nice of you come!
The year3 children at Hayes School, in George Lane Bromley, received a visit from former student and children's author Frank Hinks as part of the school's book week...''

Bromley News 18.2.04

Ramion Series
The Ramion series are the beautifully illustrated adventures of Snuggle the cat whose job is to protect a family of brothers from the evil Witch Griselda..... There is a magical air of excitement and a rapid pace of action in the words : the narrative is almost free of description and is instead full of dialogue and drama.  The colourful gouache pictures that accompany each page allow children and their parents to let their imagination drift into the stories.  Together they will explore worlds, which involve cannibals, dwarfs, dragons and knights : all the things that make a real adventure.....My two children (ages 7 and 8 ) loved reading this for themselves as the text and narration were easy to handle.  If they were any younger, these would make great bedtime stories for parents and toddlers to share.''

ForParentsByParents 10.11.03

''FRANKLY SPEAKING
Children's author Frank Hinks dropped into Shoreham Village School to describe the life of a novelist and read from his latest book....School Secretary Sally King said : ''It went really well, they all thoroughly enjoyed it and were so transfixed while he spoke the school was strangely quiet.''

Sevenoaks Chronicle 13.3.03

''TELL US A STORY
Local QC Frank Hinks gets into his stride storytelling at an exhibition of his children's illustrations at the Tudor mansion Hall Place, in Bexley, at which five of his books due for publication later this year are previewed....''

Sevenoaks Chronicle 9.1.05

''FANTASY ART GOES ON DISPLAY
Children can enter a world of ghosts, mummies, vampires and creatures of the forest at a historic hall for the rest of January.  Hall Place is exhibiting a series of storybook illustrations and captions by Bromley born writer and illustrator Frank Hinks QC....''

Kentish Times 16.1.03

''Spellbound by fantasy
In complete contrast to the sophisticated framework of Katie Kingshill's play came the children's story written by Frank Hinks (who also took the role of Death to great effect), The Creatures of the Forest, which was incorporated into the action and involved mummies, vampires, phantoms and a delightful cameo for Lord and lady Macbeth.  Its repetitive storyline and fantastical action appealed  greatly to younger siblings in the audience.''

Sevenoaks Chronicle 7.8.97