Two Laois children have recently written and launched a book on their adventures on the farm.

Ballacolla authors and best friends, nine year olds Joe Coonan and Sarah McEvoy, have co-written the book together on their love of farming.

"I really don't know where it stemmed from, because we aren't really from a farming background," laughed Joe's mother Helen Coonan.

"The pair are the best of friends, both of our families go back years. Joe and Sarah's grannies both come from farming backgrounds, I think that's where the love comes from," she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"They love playing farm outside and building dens, they have great imaginations. They're like brother and sister. The book describes Joe out checking on the horses, while Sarah is working on the vegetable patch," she laughed.

"The story is written how he would like his life to look in thirty years time. It just started out as one paragraph, which became a page, and then a full A4 refill pad," she said.

"The book has gotten legs and everyone is so interested, we couldn't believe it. The front cover is a picture of our own field, we may owe a neighbour copyright for the photo we used of his tractor," she joked.

The writers both attend Naomh Pius X National School in Ballacolla, where they began to write their story 'The Farm' during their 'Golden Time' in school.

"Thanks to their teachers Ms Frances Theloke and Ms Roseanne Phelan, they gave the kids time to be creative and write. This book was mostly written in class, and the teachers deserve so much credit for nurturing their imagination and letting them express themselves," Ms Coonan praised.

Rathdowney librarian Catherine Fitzpatrick heard about the budding authors, and offered to hold a book launch as part of Laois Libraries Summer Stars reading campaign.

"The kids were so delighted with the idea, it meant so much to them. Catherine was so good. Sarah's dad Micheal typed up the story and I gave him a hand, we printed out about twenty copies and have been inundated with requests for more copies," she said.

"It was a total joint effort between the two kids, and they sold some copies at a cake sale in school. The money went back into the school, and they were delighted," Ms Coonan shared.

There is much buzz across Laois' literary scene, with the writers having hinted that this breakout novel may lead to a trilogy.

Talks are taking place on a sequel called 'the quarry', and a final book to end the series; 'the vegetable patch'.

"They love the outdoors. Martin Lawlor came in to do gardening with the kids in school, and gave each of them a tomato seed. They have both minded theirs so well, we have six tomatoes on ours here," she shared.

"Our neighbour heard about the book and brought up five pumpkin seeds for them. They planted two each and one to share, they're constantly going out and checking on them, and pottering around outside, it's so innocent," she said.

Attending the book launch in Rathdowney library was Branch Librarian Catherine Fitzpatrick, Emma O'Riordan, Senior Executive Librarian, along with family and friends.

We look forward to seeing what comes next from the Ballacolla best friends!

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