The biggest problem we have with all our children’s books is words and space. We want the books to have a story, and be interesting, but you are always fighting the amount of words. You don’t want to end up with a novel, and you have to balance illustrations against words.

Ben Jackson – 6 April 2017

The Back Flap

Timmy and his best friend the Fart are back again!

If you and your child love to read together, then you are going to love reading along with Timmy and his Fart as they play hockey together!

The Day My Fart Followed Me To Hockey is a beautifully illustrated journey of Timmy and his best friend the Little Fart as they attend Timmy’s first hockey tryouts. Chaos and laughter ensue as the Fart attempts to help out his best friend the only way he knows how.

About the book

What is the book about?

The Day My Fart Followed Me To Hockey is about a little boy, Timmy, and his imaginary friend, The Little Fart! In this book, Timmy is struggling with hockey tryouts and the Little Fart does his best to help him get through it.

When did you start writing the book?

I think we started this book in around June or July 2016. The book was then published in September 2016.

How long did it take you to write it?

This one took a little while. Our first children’s book was quick, just hours, but this one took a lot of back and forth with my wife Sam.

Where did you get the idea from?

Well, it just sort of happened and we ran with it!

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The biggest problem we have with all our children’s books is words and space. We want the books to have a story, and be interesting, but you are always fighting the amount of words. You don’t want to end up with a novel, and you have to balance illustrations against words.

What came easily?

The stories come easily, sometimes a little too easily as we need to cut them down at the end!

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The characters are all fictitious, but sometimes we use people’s names just to give them a little shout out.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I love Leon Uris, Wilbur Smith & Bernard Cornwall.

Do you have a target reader?

Our target readers would probably be 5-8-year old’s.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I really have no process. I like to sit and relax and watch television or Netflix while I write.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Some of my non-fiction books I had outlines for, but the majority of my work I just sit down and start writing and see where it goes.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I edit a little bit as I go, but I normally leave most of it until the end.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No, we don’t have an editor we use. We try to do as much as we can ourselves, except proofing.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I watch Netflix, movies and T.V.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, we have been doing everything ourselves.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

No, we enjoyed the challenge of going Indie. Obviously if someone offered me a lucrative publishing contract, it would be hard to pass up!

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My wife Sam is a professional formatter. She handles all the formatting for each publishing platform and we run our own publishing website to help Indie Authors, Indie Publishing Group.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

We are definitely winging it for the most part!

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Just do it!

About You

Where did you grow up?

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Sam grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Where do you live now?

I still live in Hobart, Australia, but we both travel back and forth between Australia and Canada.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Just to stay tuned for our new books coming out in March and April, 2017!

End of Interview:

For more from Ben, visit his website, like his Facebook page (or the Facebook page for this book), or follow him and Sam on Twitter.

Get your copy of The Day My Fart Followed Me to Hockey from Amazon US or Amazon UK.