Kapiti Coast writer, Vivienne Bailey has recently released her first children’s novel Cricket Crazy, a story about 11-year-old cricket-mad Tom, who lives in Wellington with solo dad, Dave, and Archie, his Jack Russell dog.
He dreams of playing at the fabled Basin Reserve and making the junior rep cricket squad, but his prized cricket bat disappears, and he’s got to face Menace Mitchell, “the bowler from hell.”
Just when Tom thinks things couldn’t get any worse, his dad’s dog-hating girlfriend moves in. But then he befriends Izzy, a star all-rounder, and things start to look up – or do they?
Published by Wellington publishers, The Cuba Press, Cricket Crazy is aimed at young readers aged eight to thirteen, particularly the reluctant reader, and kids who play, and are passionate about, the game of cricket.
“I wanted to write a story about girls and boys playing sport, although Cricket Crazy is not solely focused on that,” explained Vivienne. “Its’s about Tom finding his strengths and regaining confidence, of overcoming obstacles.”
The story was sparked some years ago by a comment from that champion of children’s literature, John McIntyre (The Children’s Bookshop, Kilbirnie), “We need some sports-based books, stories about kids playing sports.”
Vivienne combined that spark with her experience as a children’s librarian, “there wasn’t much around to offer a kid who liked sport, apart from a few elderly books about football, usually set in England.”
Vivienne has worked as a freelance journalist and writer as well as spending many years in school and public libraries. She is a member of Kapiti Children’s Writing Group.
Her award-winning short stories have appeared in online journals and in anthologies such as Fresh Ink: A Collection of Voices from Aotearoa NZ (2019).
Well-known local author, Mandy Hager will launch Cricket Crazy on Thursday 18 March 5.30 pm at Paraparaumu Cricket Club, Kena Kena Park, Whyte Street Paraparaumu Beach.
Paper Plus Coastlands will have copies of the book for sale ($25.00), and refreshments will be available.
Cricket Crazy can be ordered pre-launch from www.thecubapress.nz and will be on sale at The Children’s Bookshop, Kilbirnie as well as Paper Plus Coastlands. An ebook is also available.
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