The Adventures of a 10-Year-Old Author: Young Australian debuts first book in Brooklyn

Brooklyn BookBeat

March 30, 2017 By Johanna Mayer Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Ten-year-old author Sam Wylde. Photo by Maryke Wylde

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Sam Wylde has been writing for as long as he can remember … but that might not be as far back as one would imagine, considering Sam is only 10 years old. After travelling from his home in Melbourne, Australia, Sam will give a reading from his debut book, “The Adventures of Feather Man,” at Berl’s Poetry Shop in DUMBO this weekend.

Sam worked on the book for two years. “I write because you can write about anything and it’s a way of expressing feelings or making someone happy,” he says.

Eventually, the book became a family collaboration. Sam’s mother sent a copy of the book from Australia to her sister, Nadia Ackerman, who lives here in Brooklyn. Ackerman is the owner and creative force behind natchie, a retail store in DUMBO filled with her illustrations, and she saw potential to incorporate art into the book.

“When I was reading it, I started to see so much imagery that I felt the overwhelming desire to help Sam put the book together and add some ‘natchie’ illustrations,” she says.

The two collaborated on “The Adventures of Feather Man” from halfway across the world, with Sam writing and Ackerman illustrating.

“Working with Sam all the way across the other side of the world was easy! Basically I did the drawings and waited for Sam to “OK” everything,” she says. “Funnily enough, he actually has some strong ideas about design and how he wants things to look.”

The reading at Berl’s will officially be Sam’s first, although he’s read the book aloud to family and friends before. Still, he says he’s more excited than nervous about the reading … and also about visiting Brooklyn and NYC.

“I am going to experience everything I can — I am really looking forward to seeing my Aunty Nadia again, seeing the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty and of course, eating in an American diner,” says the young author.

Ackerman isn’t worried about the reading either: “I know that Sam will be spectacular and charm the pants off everyone with his sharp wit and thick Australian accent!”

Readers will have a chance to see and hear him this weekend at Berl’s Poetry Shop on Sunday, April 2 at 3 p.m.