Jeeps, it has been an age since I posted here. A deep sadness has been with me for the past year, and honestly, I didn’t feel much like writing. In July, I lost my Dad to cancer unexpectedly, and my heart completely broke.

But before he died, he got to see one of the first books we planned to publish with our new publishing project, Miss Daisy Books, and he loved it.

So, to honour him, after floundering for much of the summer. My partner and co-founder of Miss Daisy Books, Alan, sat down and finally finished our first book and tentatively started the publishers. It is small, new, and challenging, but it is precisely what I need right now.

My Dad loved cartoons. His favourites, Sponge Bob, Postman Pat and Wallace & Gromit, have inspired me to develop and write more characters in his memory. Memories of us all together watching Tom and Jerry or Pink Panther cartoons and his belly laugh at their crazy antics will always fill my heart. It’s no wonder I have always created children’s stories.

We officially launched the paperback version of ‘A Python lives in my Garden’ on the 20th of November and dedicated it to my Dad.

It is the first of many books to come, Dad. I hope you like all the characters we create and that you will be with me as we embark on this journey.

You are in my heart, Dad. I love you always.

Frank O Rourke
24th August 1945 – 18th July 2024