From working behind the scenes in Westminster to dreaming up children’s poetry while wedged under someone’s armpit on an overcrowded commuter train, Old Berkhamstedian Nick West (2005) has taken an unusual route into children’s publishing!

Nick’s debut book, Ava’s Adventures: Collection of Children’s Poems, is being published on 29 October 2026 and brings together funny, rhyming and delightfully mischievous adventures inspired by his two young children, Ava and Max, and their ginger cat, Ginny.

Packed with humour, imagination and the occasional bit of family chaos, from encounters with fire ants to a grandfather getting locked in a shed, the poems are designed to entertain younger children while giving parents plenty to chuckle about during bedtime reading.

Much of the book was dreamed up during Nick’s daily commute into London, providing a rather unexpected creative escape from his day job in government.

Nick recently appeared on BBC Three Counties Radio, speaking to presenter Roberto Perrone about the book, the inspiration behind the stories and his unlikely journey into writing children’s poetry.

Listen to Nick’s BBC interview (8 October): (The interview starts approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes into the programme.)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m003224v?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Just in time for Christmas, Ava’s Adventures could make a lovely gift for young readers and families who enjoy a good laugh together. The book is already available to pre-order, ahead of publication on 29 October: https://pegasuspublishers.com/book/avas-adventures-collection-of-childrens-poems