Father-of-two launches first book project

Mark Blackburn, 43, from East Worthing, says it is thanks to local support that he has raised nearly £2,400 already, just £600 short of his £3,000 target.

He has just written and illustrated his first children’s book of short verse, called Today I Am, and launched the crowdfunding initiative to help finance a high-quality print run of 300.

Mark said: “It’s a fun book with 38 pages depicting children playing in animal onesie costumes, a very current trend, alongside a short verse reflecting the nature of the animal, suggesting it becomes the child’s mood or spirit animal for the day.

“It promotes a fun yet positive message in the poems, with an underlying theme that kids should feel comfortable being themselves, letting their imaginations run wild, and also presenting a few species of animals that they might not be familiar with and encouraging investigation into them.”

Mark has two children, aged nine and six, and has a keen interest in natural history, which is reflected in the animals he has chosen.

He said the book was a labour of love and the plan is to use 100 copies of the initial run to promote the book with the hope of finding a publisher to take it on.

Mark is also setting up readings in schools and booking live readings at summer festivals.

Visit www.indiegogo.com for more information. Donate £20 or more to receive a signed copy of the first edition.