Pakenham mother Cathy Scollo has had her first children’s book published, ‘Rara the cheeky little elephant’.
By Nicole Williams
FOR Cathy Scollo an elephant in Thailand led to the realisation of a life-long dream.
The mother of three recently had her first children’s book published, ‘Rara the cheeky elephant’, based on a resort elephant she met while on holiday.
“We just fell in love with the resort elephant Rara – who really was a cheeky elephant!” she said.
Ms Scollo said writing a children’s book was something she had always hoped to do and when she met Rara, she thought she thought it could be a great story because Rara was taken from her parents as a calf.
“I felt I could take the story and mould it into a children’s book inviting children to learn about Thailand,” she said.
Ms Scollo is a teacher’s aide, specialising in literacy, and wrote and illustrated the book while juggling parenting responsibilities, work and her studies in professional writing.
The book took three years to complete.
“It was something I had always wanted to do,” she said.
“If you believe in what you do, it all follows. It just takes time.”
Although finding the right publisher wasn’t easy, Ms Scollo said her studies helped her understand the industry better and eventually find her publisher, Brolly Books.
“My publisher was spectacular,” Ms Scollo said.
“It really goes a long way when you find someone who believes in what you’re doing.”
Ms Scollo will spend some time promoting the book in schools and is also working on ideas and concepts for a new book.
Rara the cheeky elephant is sold to selected bookstores in Australia and New Zealand and from www.cathyscollo.com.au
