Katherine resident and coordinator of Katherine Isolated Children's Services, Mandy Tootell, has written a children's book about the big, yellow road train her husband drives.
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To be published June 2 by mainstream publishing house Allen and Unwin, Mrs Tootell says 'Yellow Truck Road Train' is specifically for and about the Northern Territory.
"My reason for writing the book as a Mother of two in Katherine is I would like to see the NT culture in literature for children," she said.
"Road trains are a distinct part of the landscape up here and so are the concepts and language used in the book.
"The book is about a boy who goes on a big road trip with his Dad in the road train and they meet a range of Territory characters from Buffalo to nomads.
"There's this gap in the market here for books that reflect the unique environment kids grow up in here so that's what we're trying to fill," Mrs Tootell said.
This niche in the market was identified by Allen and Unwin but the process of writing Big Yellow Road Train began with author Johanna Bell's 'Story Projects'.
Mrs Tootell engaged with mentoring opportunities offered by Story Projects and completed her book over 18 months with their guidance, before it was picked up by Chief Publisher at Allen and Unwin Erica Wagner.
The book will be officially launched during the Katherine Isolated Children Services early-years literacy festival at Katherine Regional Arts on June 30.
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Mrs Tootell says it's been an exciting and unexpected journey.
"I'd never even considered writing a book before," she said.
"It really was just an opportunity which came up and I jumped on it.
"To actually have the book physically in my hands now is just such an exciting feeling," Mrs Tootell said.
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