Ayrshire author launches first children's book

-Credit: (Image: Neil Kennedy)
-Credit: (Image: Neil Kennedy)


An Ayrshire author has launched the first in a series of children’s ebooks.

Inspired by his own kids, Neil Kennedy from Symington has released his first two books - Teddy, Will You Get Ready! and Dog and His Good Friend Frog.

Both bedtime stories, the first explores the morning routine as children get ready for school while the second is a short story about a dog and a frog who go on a fishing trip.

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First inspired to write when his eldest was young, Neil has always been telling stories to his three children - Keira, 12, Connor, nine, and Callum, two.

Neil was excited following the release of his books on Amazon which are available on Kindle.

Speaking to Ayrshire Live, he hoped his books were something both parents and children could relate to.

Neil said: “I am a father of three and I have always read or sang little songs to them at bed time.

“I decided when my daughter was little to write her some of her own fun bedtime stories. My kids absolutely loved them both, and a couple months ago they suggested to me that I should try and publish them for other kids to hear.

“I started to look into it and realised that I was able to publish them as e-books for free. It was done through ‘Kindle direct publishing’.

“It is quite expensive to publish a paperback copy of the books, but in the future I would love to be able to see my books on the shelves in local stores available to parents and their children.

“They are fun and enjoyable little stories for parent and child. I hope if you have young children and love a bedtime story that these two could be added to every parent’s child’s bedtime routine.”

Of his two published works, Neil said: “Teddy, Will You Get Ready! is all about the morning routine and trying to get your child ready in time for school. It is a fun and enjoyable little book that I hope parents can relate to.

“Dog and His Good Friend Frog is a fun filled adventure between two friends, dog and frog, who go on a fishing trip together.

“I hope this enjoyable short story can capture the imagination of both parent and child and they enjoy reading it time and time again.

“I’m so excited that my very first children’s short stories/bedtime stories have been reviewed and went live.

“I have a few others not finished yet. They are called Lazy Lion and Mindy at the Windae.

“I would love for any future purchases of my e-books, that the money would go towards paperback copies.”

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