An Oban-based couple has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help them break into the world of personalised children’s literature publishing.
Lorna and Daniel Freytag produced a book recently that allows children to take centre stage in their own adventure, and they want to bring the idea to a wider audience.
The book, titled In the City, is a Where’s Wally-esque adventure in which children can search for themselves in 12 crowded city scenes.
For the first edition of the book, the Freytags photographed more than 40 of the town’s children, including their four-year-old daughter, Juno.
Mrs Freytag, a published children’s picture book illustrator, and her husband, a graphic designer, spent about a year developing their idea into the finished article.
They now want to raise £10,000 through a 30-day Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to get their fledgling publishing company, HeyWow!, off to a good start in life.
Parents who pledge at least £20 will receive a copy of the book featuring their own child’s name and face on every page. The money would go towards the reproduction costs of the books and the creation of a new HeyWow! website.
The new site would allow customers to order the book and upload a picture of their child’s face.
Mrs Freytag said: “Kids love to look at themselves, be the centre of the universe, at least ours do. Our book allows them to star in their very own adventure.”
She said HeyWow! would do its best to have the books delivered by Christmas, if the £10,000 target is reached. If the campaign falls short, however, none of the money pledged will be withdrawn from backers’ accounts.
With 16 days remaining, the couple are still £6,900 short of their target, but are determined to make a success of the venture, whatever the outcome.
Mr Freytag said there were other funding options out there. Publishers have shown an interest in the books, but the couple is keen to retain total control over their creation – at first, anyway.
And they are already developing new ideas, should they succeed, including a fantasy-based personalised children’s book, and a glow-in-the-dark version.
More information about the project and a link to the Kickstarter campaign can be found on the HeyWow! website: www.heywow.co