A YORK author has seen her own fantastical creations for the first time and is set to show them off at the city’s book fair this weekend.

Toni Bunnell is a writer and wildlife biologist, and will be at the book fair this weekend showing off her recently published collection of fairy stories, The Fidgit.

She will be at York Book Fair with newly-printed copies of the book, which is illustrated by York artist Swea Sayers, and figures of The Fidgit and his sister, Jacqueline, which have been created by Chrissie Boulter from the Beverley-based Pinkneydell Dolls.

The book tells the story of The Fidgit’s transformation from a human into a half-human and half-fairy creature, and his adventures in the fairy world and Toni said she is thrilled with Swea and Chrissie’s versions of her characters.

She said: “It’s fantastic to see the books in print and the dolls.”

Toni said she loved the illustrations Swea has created and Chrissie has made 3D versions of the fairies based on Swea’s illustrations.

Toni self-published The Fidgit first as an ebook, but decided to bring the stories out in paperback after readers told her the tales would lend themselves well to a fully illustrated book.

After bringing out two other novels in ebook form, it’s the first time Toni has ventured into self publishing paperbacks.

She said: “It’s a lot of work, but fairly straightforward. I wanted to make a good job of it. It looks fantastic. The cover photo – which I took in a forest in New Zealand – looks very good.”

Toni, who lives in Holgate with her husband, Paul, is also a wildlife biologist and does research into York’s hedgehog population.

At the book fair she will be raising awareness of hedgehogs and her hedgehog rescue scheme by selling copies of The Fidgit as well as some of her music and work on music therapy.

The book fair will take place in the Knavesmire Suite at York Racecourse from 10am on Saturday.