Children’s writer releases second story

AFTER releasing his first children’s book in April this year, author Dave O’Neill has followed up with his second release just in time for Christmas.

Created with returning illustrator Isabella Gagliano, Santa Skis the Murray was launched just prior to SpringFest, and centres around the titular Claus crashlanding in the Murray River.

O’Neill said much like his debut work, the book was inspired by family connection.

“Me and my family grew up waterskiing on the Murray,” he said. “We’d go to Torrumbarry every Christmas and water ski all summer,” he said.

“My dad owned Skin Ski and Surf here so we grew up talking water skiing and one of my brothers Pete runs ski shows at Lake Mulwala. It’s a big part of our family.

“It was Christmas time last year when the spark hit. Pete was involved with the story and illustrations to make sure it looked legitimate, little things like what position Santa would be in.”

In keeping with its influence, the book is being stocked along the Murray, at Dymocks in Albury, Collins Booksellers in Echuca and Mildura, and Skin Ski Surf locations at Yarrawonga.

O’Neill’s goal is to sell 500 copies before Christmas, a target he said he’s tracking well with.

In Ballarat, the book can be found at both Collins outlets as well as Skin Ski and Surf, and the Brown Hill post office.

Released through Shawline Publishing, O’Neill said he’s humbled by the continued support of the community.

“I knew Ballarat was a great place to be in terms of the community feel but people here like to celebrate our own and get behind each other which means everything to me,” he said.

O’Neill will aim to release his third book called Wombats Can’t Surf next year.

“It’s a story about resilience laced with some good humour,” he said. “Hopefully it’s surrounding a topic that is close to many Australians’ hearts with surfing.”