Kentish Express Ashford & District
Fidget-Knickers author hopes book will inspire
A dyslexic Ashford author is touring primary schools around the town to discuss his newly published children’s book.
Colin Wicks, 53, a property businessman from Kennington, published Frances Fidget-Knickers and the Chance to Get Even on April 1.
Mr Wicks wrote the story in 1998 but put it on hold to pursue his career.
Heha s a l r e a d y v i s i t e d Bethersden and Victoria Road primary schools where he held interactive sessions with the children, chatting about the difficulties he had writing the story due to suffering with dyslexia.
The story is the author’s first published book and centres around a quirky family who are banished from a magical world where Frances takes the opportunity to play tricks on her mean grandad when her parents go away.He said: “I wrote it for my children when they were about six and eight. I would write them small stories for them to listen to.”
Mr Wicks inspiration stemmed from a drive to Hythe with his children, where they laughed at the idea of the name ultimately given to the main character.
He went home and wrote the first draft of the story in six weeks which has changed very little since 1998.
The story includes several comedy moments which Mr Wicks found easy to write: “I find it difficult to write things seriously. I can’t do it.”
Mr Wicks hopes that the difficulties he has overcome with dys- lexia will inspire children.
He said: “The aim is to introduce the book to a wider audience and to tell the children that just because you might not be good at something does not mean that you stop trying.
“My reading’s got better because I read every day. There’s no need to feel embarrassed because a lot of people have these problems. The difficulties I’ve had have not stopped me. The main part of writing is ideas.”
Thirty schools have already been provided with free copies of the book for their libraries.
Mr Wicks said “I would like to go round more schools and do more reads. That would be fantastic.”
The illustrated book has received f i ve- star reviews on Amazon.
The sequel – Frances FidgetKnickers and The Reluctant Rescue – is due for release this autumn.
Visit francesfidgetknick ers.com. To arrange a school visit email ccolinwicks@virgin media.com