Mr. Heff.

Hi Folks...Mr Heff is the name I am most known by. When I was a school principal and art teacher the students always called me that name. Short and friendly.

My real name is Paul Francis Garfunkel Thaddeus McLeod Magee, Heffernan. No wonder they decided to call me Mr Heff.

I live in Tararu, Thames, New Zealand with my lovely wife Kathy who hails from Wales. From my studio on the water's edge on the Firth of Thames I write and illustrate my stories.

They have been lying in a box for oodles of years, neglected while I was being a dad, holiday camp and restaurant owner.

Just recently Kathy and good friend Bruce said, "come on Heff, for goodness sakes publish those stories before you shuffle off the planet. You are running out of time." So, I opened up the box and out flew about a zillion moths. The stories were still there singing songs and having barbeques.

'Robert the Polar Bear' is the first to be published.

'Ikky Sticky' is next.

Then 'Jingle Jangle Street' just needs illustrating.

Then 'The Reluctant Dragon' series followed by a Pirate series...looking forward to completing these.

Two chapter books are finished and just awaiting illustrating. Cant tell you too much about them as some wily wizard might come along and pinch the ideas...as Wizards tend to do you know.

And then..ta da!!...I have a mega, ginormous fantasy epic like 'Lord of the Rings' but for kids waiting in a suitcase. This was started in 1993.

Enormous seemingly, endless and ongoing battles are happening in that suitcase. It shakes violently on occasions

I also make whimsical, wacky ceramic characters..

'You can find out more on my Mr Heff Facebook page or my website:

https://www.mrheff.co.nz/