A Taylors Hill author has penned a series of books inspired by her late brother.
The first book in Nina De Goederen’s ‘Johnny the inventor’ series will be released on 5 December.
De Goederen, a retired English teacher of 39 years, said her main character, Johnny, was based on her brother John, who was called Johnny by their mum.
In the book, Johnny invents products using broken items his mum and dad are planning to throw out.
In the first book, Johnny tries to create a garbage gobbler, while in book two, he believes he has invented healing soap. In the third book, Johnny tries to make flying shoes.
“[My brother] always though he could create things to better the world,” De Goederen said.
“He did make the soap.
“I remembers … he mashed up all the soap in the house with water and mum’s perfume and chopped grass. There was no soap in the house!”
De Goederen said she hopes the books, aimed at six-eight-year-olds who are just becoming independent readers, will encourage creativity and personal growth in children.
“We always had books in the house and imagines the worlds they took us to,” she said.
De Goederen will have a stall at Watergardens Shopping Centre from 15-21 December where she will be signing copies of Johnny the inventor: The garbage gobbler.
She said books two and three, illustrated by her husband, will be available next year.
Nina De Goederen and her husband Aran De Goederen with the next editions of Nina's book Johnny the Inventor, illustrated by Aran. (Damjan Janevski). 542227_01
Taylors Hill author Nina De Goederen is set to release the next editions of books in her series Johnny the Inventor, inspired by her late brother.
De Goederen’s main character Johnny continues on his adventures and escapades in the second and third books, which went on sale on Friday 27 March.
In Johnny’s next chapter, he invents a healing soap, inspired by a recollection of events which took place while De Goederen and her brother were children.
In book three, Johnny endeavours to create flying shoes.
“He was always tinkering in the garage, making this and making that,” De Goederen said.
De Goederen said growing up reading and working as an English teacher for 39 years inspired her to share her same passion for the creative world with today’s generation of children.
“I just loved the world that the books took me to. You just lose yourself in the story and it just becomes real to me.”
De Goederen said the excitement to launch Johnny’s next chapter is even bigger than the first, as her husband Aran has joined in on helping to bring the series to life, illustrating the books based on De Goederen’s writing and suggestions.
“I am very excited, I can’t wait for the whole set to be out. It’s always been a dream of ours to work together like this. It was just really good to be able to work together.”
De Goederen will have a stall at Watergardens Shopping Centre from 10-12 April where she and her husband, Aran will be signing copies of all three books in her series that will be available for purchase.
She said kids should also get excited for book four, set to release later this year.
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