Co-op head launches his "Stinkypants" for charity

Tuesday 22 November 2016

The head of the Island's Co-op has published a new superhero adventure starring his two children that he hopes will fly off the shelves for charity.

Colin Macleod has been on a mission to keep the bedtime stories he's made up with his sons Harris and Lewis alive for years to come and has come up with "Meet Hammerhead and Captain Stinkypants" - his first book.

Mr Macleod said: “Like a lot of dads, my bedtime routines with the boys have been dominated by storytelling.  Harris, Lewis and I have been fairly chaotic with the way that we have imagined bedtime stories and we often take it in turns to create different parts of a story.  This fairly random way of discovering our collective imaginations has, over the years, led to some themes emerging.  We have built characters, worlds, emotions and dreams together at bedtime.

“I thought it might be nice if I wrote some of those stories down.  I wanted to have a record of the stories we told together so that one day, when my children have their children, they might discover a manuscript in a dusty old box in the loft and smile.  They could tell the next generation that these were the stories that they created with their dad.”

The book sees Harris and Lewis whisked off to a secret land where they are transformed into superheroes Hammerhead and Captain Stinky Pants. 

Mr Macleod said: "Deciding to publish a book has been a huge opportunity to learn. I entered a world that proved to be far more complicated than I had ever imagined.  When you read children’s stories written by others, you have no idea of the complexity and thought that has gone into those words, page layouts and illustrations.

"Children’s books contain very few redundant words.  Each phrase must propel the story forwards.  You must show but not tell. Each illustration must encourage the reader to turn the page.   Every double page spread needs to end with a cliff hanger.  On so it goes on.  In the end, I think I have saved 70 or 80 different versions of the story as I worked and reworked it and it has taken many, many months."

All the profits from the sale of the new book will be split between the Variety Club of Jersey and Help A Guernsey Child.

He said: "I am glad that that dusty old shoebox that my children will discover in their loft in 30 or 40 years’ time will now contain a book that has ensured that the memories of our bedtime story adventures of HammerHead and Captain StinkyPants will endure, and I hope hundreds of other children will enjoy sharing our adventure whilst raising money for children in the Channel Islands who are less fortunate.

"It’s a privilege to lead an organisation that holds a very special place in Channel Islands’ life and makes a considerable and long-lasting impact. But personally, my two boys are my greatest achievement and they challenge me and inspire me on a daily basis.  First and foremost this book, which has been a real labour of love,  is a gift to them."

You can find out more about his publishing journey when he gives a talk at the Library on Friday 2  December at 13:10.