Look up, take notice, feel the wind in your hair and enjoy the freedom of exploring the Manx countryside in the fresh air.

That’s the sentiment of the debut book written by a new Manx author.

Chrissy Milner has seen her first two children’s books, ’The Man Who Cycled With his Shirt Off’ and ’Suzie’s Adventures’, published, accompanied by lovingly-realised illustrations by two popular Manx artists.

A late convert to writing, Chrissy began to write during the first lockdown, initially releasing a book of poetry, before turning her hand to writing children’s literature.

She didn’t have to look far for the inspiration for her first tale either, as she based the main character in ’The Man Who Cycled With his Shirt Off’ on her partner.

’Ed, my partner, always rides his bike with a tatty shirt on,’ said Chrissy.

’He just happened to say one day "would I prefer it if I rode around with no shirt on?"

’Of course I said no, but the image stuck in my mind and, eventually, it became the title for my first book.

’This chap, who I called Eddie, takes the same route each week on his bicycle.

’I have taken a bit of artistic license and I have him going past a lot of the famous places and scenes on the Isle of Man.

The illustrations, created by Julia Ashby Smyth, shows off the Manx landscape and many iconic monuments, places and animals.

’It would be nice if it encouraged children to get on their bikes,’ she said.

’Maybe the message is that there is more out there if you look for it, and you can see things by getting on your bike, just as well as if you are sitting in your car or walking, rather looking at the road.

Her second children’s book is a re-imagining of an old childhood book, which was read to her by her mother.

’My second book is based on an original ladybird book, written and illustrated in 1940 by AJ McGregor, called "Ginger’s Adventures",’ she said. My mother used to read me that story when I was a child and I love it.

’So I thought I would write my own version, called Suzie’s Adventures, set in the modern day.

’It is written in verse, which follows the same structure as AJ McGregor’s book, which makes it very simple for young children to pick up and read or to have read to them.

’It’s a story about a dog that is very happy and at home, but gets taken away to a strange environment.

’So she tries to return to where she is familiar. There are sad bits in it, but there is a happy wending.

’Its illustrated by another wonderful Manx artist, Chrissy Moss.

’We used the colour palette of the original Lady bird books, to make it a little bit retro-looking.’

Chrissy’s books are available from the Bridge Bookshop, based in Ramsey or Port Erin.