Finally, I’m collaborating with a Daddo.

Whilst it would have been nice to be Aide #1 to Cameron Daddo’s Aide #2 on The West Wing, the whole ‘not being an actor’ put paid to that.

Instead, I have written a book – Jack in the ‘Stuff Happens’ series, to stand alongside Andrew Daddo’s Ned in the same series. ‘Stuff Happens’ is the brainchild of Susannah McFarlane, and is set in Grade 5 at Monvale Primary School. The stories are ‘real-life’ in nature, and as more titles unfold, different boys in Monvale’s Grade 5 classrooms will carry different story-lines. The brief was to create emotionally challenging situations for our protagonists, because books for boys are often slanted towards fantasy/adventure stories, rather than everyday challenges at home and school.

My story is about a recess game that goes wrong. It’s called ‘You Play, You Pay’, and is a violent shoe-kicking game that might be recognisable to readers of Making News. We really did play this game at my school, and the boys of Monvale enjoy the same bittersweet experience. Yes, it’s exciting. Yes, it’s silly. Yes, it’s ridiculously fun. But there is a sort of inevitability as to where a game called ‘You Play, You Pay’ is going to end up.

For Jack, it’s the emergency ward in chapter two.

But physical pain ends up being less of a problem for my protagonist than feelings of guilt caused by not telling the truth. In order to minimise possible punishment for playing a banned game, Jack lies to the Principal about the type of game it was. This is fine for all involved, except the boy who tackled him, a hefty but ungainly fringe member of the friendship group – a kid named Fadi.

Fadi wears the blame for Jack’s injury, despite Jack being the inventor of You Play, You Pay. When Fadi is going to miss a much-anticipated clinic with A-League professional soccer stars, Jack’s conscience finds full voice.

Will Jack do the right thing?

Will Fadi get to go to the clinic?

Will Jack meet his soccer heroes?

Will Jack’s mum stop hugging him in public all the time?

Is Dario Argento meant to be Mark Schwarzer?

What the hell is ‘Booksnatcher’, and why are they playing it at detention?

Check out Jack.  And Andrew Daddo’s Ned. Phillip Gwynne’s Michael and Will Kostakis’ Sean are released mid August.

There’s a first chapter sample on the Penguin website.

An ebook is available too.

I’ll be on Kids WB discussing Jack on Saturday week (9/8/14). The set reminded me a lot of First Tuesday Bookclub.