Mundoolun author Jess Bedford has overcome an industry ‘scam’ to release her debut book, Fergus the Flamingo.
Aimed at children 3-10, the book tells the story of a flamingo who embraces his individuality, reminding kids that it’s okay to be different.
Initially, she published through a company that she says kept all her royalties.
Despite the setback, she collaborated with other affected writers to re-publish independently
“Fergus was created to teach children that they can be themselves, no matter what,” Mrs Bedford.
“It’s a story about self-discovery, embracing uniqueness, and following your heart.”
Mrs Bedford has been writing poetry since she was a teenager, but it wasn’t until the Melbourne COVID-19 lockdowns and the diagnosis of autism and ADHD in her eldest Noah, where she branched out into children’s stories.
“I wanted Nash to know that being different is not only okay but something to celebrate,” she said.
“And it was actually Nash who helped me decide that Fergus should be a flamingo because they’re so unique and beautiful.”
Reflecting on her first book, Jess believes we should all take a feather out of Fergus’s mantra.
“Fergus doesn’t care about fitting in and that’s what I love about him,” she said.
“He inspires kids—and even adults—to embrace who they truly are.”
