2 minute read
Local People: Scott Fleming
“Writing was never my plan, but as I could see my 40th birthday on the horizon, I suddenly found the notion to write,” says Scott Fleming, a Bathgate resident who has just self-published his first children’s book.
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“I started writing about four years ago, inspired in part by my eldest child who encouraged me to make up silly bedtime stories. Ideas soon started to come at me from all angles. The lack of sleep when my newborn daughter arrived can perhaps explain some of the sillier aspects of the stories I have created!”
Getting a children’s book published through traditional methods is extremely difficult due in part to the influx of books from celebrities. Once a publisher secures the book rights of one well-known name, they often close the door to submissions from unknown aspiring authors. So Scott decided to self-publish in the hope that if the book sells well and attracts enough attention, it may open a few publishers’ doors. “I was fortunate enough to be able to do this with the help of a work colleague, Patrycja Paczkowska, who is a very talented artist in her own right and took to her first book illustration job with ease. It was a huge learning curve for both of us, but enjoyable and exciting at the same time as the book came to life.” William the Wizard’s Wonky Wand is the first of over a dozen children’s books he has written so far, and he is also putting the finishing touches to two novels and several young adults books that he hopes his children will enjoy as they get older.
Scott lives in Bathgate and is a former pupil of Bathgate Academy. He visited several schools on World Book Day last month, and is scheduled to visit more for readings with the children. He undertook his writing with no formal writing qualifications, but wants to encourage anyone who harbours similar dreams to grab a notepad and write down anything that pops into your head. It may well lead to a story. “Even if you write for yourself, it can be very rewarding, even therapeutic,” he says. “A book or story doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, it only has to entertain.” Find Scott on:
Facebook: @ScottFlemingBooks Twitter: @sfcreates1977 Instagram: @scottfleming77
WIN A COPY!
To enter the draw for a chance to win a signed copy of William the Wizard’s Wonky Wand, simply answer the following question:
What is the illustrator’s name?
Send your entry to win@konect.scot to arrive no later than 15 th
April 2020. Please include your full name and postcode. Winners will be drawn at random after the closing date and informed via the email address used to enter.
