I.B. Gumnut: Batemans Bay author to make 'Mad Dogs' free for Book Week

Between dressing up in costumes of their favourite character to the coveted book week parade, kids are spoiled for choice when it comes to commemorating their love of books.

But Book Week is also a special time for authors because to celebrate books is also to celebrate the clever people who come up with the stories, characters and settings that we come to know and love.

This Book Week, Batemans Bay author Ben Innes, or I.B. Gumnut as his readers know him, will make his debut book Mad Dogs available for free as an eBook.

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Mr Innes said he wanted children to "continue to explore their love of reading" this Book Week without it being overshadowed by the ongoing pandemic.

Knowing this year's Book Week may be different, he saw it as an opportunity to give back when books have given him so much.

He said one of his favourite memories was the first time a parent showed him a photo of their child dressed as the star of Mad Dogs.

"As an author, it's one of those things you can't possibly imagine happening," he said.

"To have a child say they loved your book so much that they've chosen one of your characters to dress up as for the book week parade is a dream come true.

"It's similar to the feeling when you first get published. You really feel like you've accomplished something special.

And when you have little fans loving your work, it's truly the icing on the cake!"

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Set in the Australian outback where two mischievous dogs get up to no good on a motorbike, Ben says Mad Dogs fits perfectly with this year's Book Week theme of 'Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds'.

Ben's book Mad Dogs will be free until August 28 to coincide with both Book Week and his recent launch into the U.S. market as 'Book of the Day' for Online Book Club.

To download a copy, visit www.gumnutentertainment.com.