Wardrobe wonder inspires new book

When a Hamilton kindy teacher wrote a short book for her niece's birthday, she had no inkling it was the start of her journey as an author.

A year later, story time at Kids Club 2 kindergarten, in Flagstaff, has taken on a whole new significance for Talia Nelson, because it's her words she is reading to the children now.

Nelson said the book, entitled I Wonder What I can Wonder in my Wardrobe, was inspired by the kindy children, who provide her with new material every day.

"One boy said he liked to sleep in his wardrobe," she explained. She took this idea as the starting point for the tale in which all kinds of magical things happen inside a young girl's closet.

The ambition to publish a book gathered pace when Nelson attended a creative-writing course and was told by Jenny Hessell – author of the Grandma McGarvey books – that she should try to publish her work.

She was "over the moon" after hearing the praise and went to a few publishers before deciding to do it herself.

"I put a lot of effort into the story and I just want to be proud of my book," Nelson said.

And she is not stopping there.

"I've got two more books on the go, well, bits of them anyway," she said.

With the children constantly giving her fresh ideas each day, Nelson may may have sufficient inspiration for many more.

The children have had a couple of sneak previews of I Wonder What I can Wonder in my Wardrobe, but the official book launch is next Friday, when Nelson will read for children, parents, friends and family. Cupcakes, popcorn and other food featured in the book will be part of the evening.

- © Fairfax NZ News