A DAD has become a sell out author after writing a book inspired by his daughter’s entrepreneurial ways.
Lydia Ruffle, from Tiptree, had been fundraising for more than a year towards getting a puppy when she decided to step her game up.
Parents Matthew and Claire told the youngster she needed to show she was ready for the responsibility, by raising the money for it.
The ten-year-old had collected hundreds of pounds when she began her own business, Lydia’s Hand-Crafted Dog Treats, last March.
She sold bags of treats for £1 and was greatly supported as she sold 140 packs in the first week alone.
Dad Matthew, 39, says Lydia asked him to write a story about her new pet Tilly the cockapoo after she raised enough money to get him in June.
During a camping trip in Kent, they met another cockapoo puppy called Tag and Lydia suggested to her dad, Matthew, that he should write a story about the two dogs.
Matthew, 41, is the owner of the Essex based Matthew Ruffle Chimney Sweep Service.
He wrote the book and sent it to a London publisher who offered him a publishing deal.
The book, The Adventures of Tag and Tilly, is now live and sold out in one week on Amazon, WHSmith and Waterstones.
The children’s fiction book sees Tag and Tilly’s visit the zoo.
Matthew said: “We never really planned on getting a dog as a family, but Lydia was desperate for one.
“She saved for nearly three years forgoing any Christmas and birthday presents.”
In October last year, Matthew sent a copy of the 20-page children’s book written in rhyming verse to Olympia Publishers London.
He said: “I emailed a copy with a cover note and was offered a publishing deal in December.
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“I took sample illustration from four different people and decided on a company in Romania.”
The illustrations are by Alexandra Abagiu.
The book is now stocked at three gift shops in Tiptree and most major book shops.
He hopes to stock the book all over Essex once stocks replenish.
Matthew has written a further four adventures for the Tag and Tilly series, along with another about a Mule who becomes a superstar DJ.
His publisher needs to do six months of sales on his first book before deciding on any more, however Matthew hopes to be able to publish more books soon.
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