Ocean Grove’s Jill Dwyer never set out to become a children’s author, but this month her debut book hit the shelves.
Available since September as an ebook, the physical copies of Ms Dwyer’s Hooray! Nanna’s Come to Stay have arrived at select bookstores and online.
Inspired by her four grandchildren, the book tells the charming story of a fun-filled day shared by Nanna and her grandchild.
“It’s a story of the bond between grandparent and grandchild; spending quality time together, having a fun day and finding out who’s more worn out at the end,” Ms Dwyer said.
“It’s a whimsical, rhyming story – very beach-orientated because of where we live down here – and I think it would resonate with most people.”
While it’s the first book Ms Dwyer has published, it’s not the first story she has written for her grandchildren.
“I wrote a story specifically for my granddaughter, because her name is Harriet Hare,” she said.
“I just thought, oh my goodness, there’s a book in that, a story of H words.”
Ms Dwyer contacted her friend, artist Morgan Cormick, to illustrate the story and printed a few copies through her son’s printing business in Ballarat.
When she wrote the new story, once again Ms Dwyer sent it to Ms Cormick and was thrilled to see the artwork that came back.
“I feel really proud of it, as much for Morgan as for me, because she’s done a fantastic job of bringing the story to life,” she said.
Hooray! Nanna’s Come to Stay is available at jilldwyer.com.au, Amazon and select bookstores in Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads.
