Western News: October 12, 2023

4
Thursday October 12 2023
Love of literacy prompts writer to
help schools fundraise for books
WIN-WIN: Author Julie Folkers wants to help schools and
clubs raise funds for book buying.
• By Sasha Watson
DESPITE LIVING with multiple
sclerosis, children’s author and
publisher Julie Folkers aims to
help young people develop their
reading and writing.
The Wigram-based writer
wants to supply notebooks to
schools, charities and other
organisations for $10, which they
can then on-sell for $15. Schools
and clubs could use the funds
raised for book buying.
“Your school or club can earn
$5 from each notebook ordered.
That’s easier than standing in
the cold cooking sausages,” said
Folkers.
The intention is for students to
use the notebooks to write their
own books.
Folkers, the owner of Ooky
Spooky Publications, said she has
produced “about 400 notebooks
this year” to sell.
She will also be offering her
children’s books for a discounted
price of $12 each, which can be
on-sold for $18.
Folkers was chair of the New
Zealand Society of Authors in
2012, and signed with a UK
publisher to sell illustrated
versions of her own stories
in 2017.
Folkers first fantasy novel for
children.
Her first fantasy novel for
children is called Abby and the
Hopplescotch Realm, which is
book one in a series about the
adventures of a group of children
and other characters in different
realms.
Folkers’ other series include
the read-along Fairytale series,
the Dreamland series, and the
Mr Arthur series.
“(My) books are fun, laughter,
mischief and mayhem with a
mystery involved with so much
happening they hold the reader
in the book,” Folkers said.
“They are also great for kids
who are learning English as their
second language with a parent
who needs to develop their English
as well.”
Folker was in her 30s and had
just had her first child when she
was diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis.
“It was a mystery losing my
eyesight in a single day and
regaining it later on. I’ve been
blind three times all together
and it made me rethink what I
was going to do with myself,” she
said.
“I always said I would love to
write kids’ books . . . I re-trained,
got my diploma and decided to
follow my dream.
“My plan now that I’m back
into doing school visits again,
which were restricted due
to Covid-19, is to help these
organisations buy books so the
kids can continue to develop
vital skills.”
• To find out more or to
get an order form, go to
Julie Folkers’ Facebook
page