Lockdown sparks a visit to childhood imagination for local author Drew Bale
Just six months after publishing his debut young adult novel Follow the Leader, local primary school teacher Drew Bale has followed it up with a story delving into his own childhood for inspiration.
“I wasn't going to do this one. I had a whole bunch of other ideas that I was going to write about and I had them all planned,” said Drew; of his new book Creek Crew: Kingdom of the Creek.
But with the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Drew — like all of us — was spending more time at home and found himself thinking more and more on his own childhood.
“I look out my window at home and I've got a big water, wetland area and I can see kids playing out there and so this book sort of reminded me of my youth,” he said.
“Out the back of our, place we had a creek running through, a big dam, a big grass mound and we’d go out there with my neighbours and play, just using our imagination. Instead of being on a device, we’d go outside with our mates and just making fun out of whatever we had.”
Creek Crew follows the story of Hunter and his annoying younger brother, who move to a new town and discover new friends and an abundance of possibilities for fun in the creek and open spaces behind their new home.
Drew said the process of writing meant connecting with old friends and reminiscing about their shared experiences.
“I'm still in touch with a couple of my neighbours and mates, so throughout the whole thing I was getting ideas from them about what we did and some are embellished, some are very true, but it was great to touch base and remember things that I'd forgotten,” said Drew.
“So the process was pretty fun which it makes it a lot easier and less of a chore. I really love writing, but this was really easy to do from start to finish.”
Where Follow the Leader was aimed at primary school students, Drew said much in this book is relatable to older audiences.
“I think older readers who might have had that same sort of past will be able to bring their own nostalgia into it and say, ‘Yeah! I remember doing this on my weekends!’ Or after school or whatever. So I think it is accessible for everybody.”
Creek Crew: Kingdom of the Creek can be found at Collins Booksellers in Orange or through online book retailers.
“You can find it online but Collins in Orange have been a really awesome supporter of me. They carry it and will have some signed copies in, so if you are in Orange they are your best bet — even if you are not in Orange, I still think they are your best bet!”