A children’s author has featured Clacton Pier and its major thrill rides in her latest book.
Buddy the Robot Alien and Friends: Seaside Adventures by Lisa Wilson was released earlier this month.
For Lisa, who lives in Holland-on-Sea with her husband Craig and son, Riley, it is her second book in the series, the first having been published in 2024.
And it’s Riley she has to thank for the original idea as he came home from school one day with the character of Buddy in mind.
“I loved Buddy so much that I decided to write a book and my son wanted me and my husband to come up with another character each. Mine was Fluff Puff and Craig provided Snoozy Woozy,” said Lisa.
“In Buddy the Robot Alien and Friends, Riley and his brother Hayden discover a crashed airship from the Planet Zonk and embark on an alien adventure. In the sequel the aliens return to earth where they are taken to Clacton Pier and the beach.”
Lisa draws inspiration from her family and surroundings and writes about valuable life lessons such as teamwork, friendship, curiosity and bravery.
“I was born and grew up in Watford and then after I married and we had Riley we would bring him to Clacton for holidays,” she added. “We then decided to move here and it made sense to include it in the next book about the seaside adventures as it is part of our life.
“I have already given copies to friends and their children, who have never been to the attraction, and they now want to come down to visit the pier!”
In the book she features the Helter Skelter, Big Wheel, Dockside Dodgems and the Looping Star roller coaster with illustrations. Lisa makes a sketch and then the official illustrator takes over.
It also includes Dolly, the one-eyed dog, which is dedicated to the dog of a friend and there will be a donation from sales to the Blind Dog charity.
“I would love to get the characters on television and I am also working on a third book where Riley and Hayden go back to the Planet Zonk with the aliens,” added Lisa.
Pier communications manager Nigel Brown said it had been great fun getting involved in the book.
“Lisa contacted us about using some of our thrill rides as illustrations, as well as the pier itself,” he added.
“We were delighted to oblige and feel they look really good. It also spreads word about the attraction further afield which is good for us and Clacton.”
Buddy the Robot Alien and Friends: Seaside Adventures is published by Austin Macauley Publishers and is priced at £8.99.
It is on sale around the world online and available through Amazon, eBay, Debenhams, Waterstones, WH Smith and other book shops.
