Children’s Author Comes Home

A returning Proserpine resident, who moved back to the area 12 months ago, has written five children’s books over the past year and sold over 650 copies.

Kaye Ogilvie grew up on a cane farm in Lethebrook and has spent over 30 years living away from the region, most recently down in South Burnett where she ran a 123-acre farm with her partner and ‘star’ of her books – Farmer Dodds.

The couple started their farm from scratch, beginning with ducks, turkeys, geese and chooks before bringing in some goats and 12 calves.

Each animal at the farm has its own name and individual personality and, Kaye would often regale her family with stories of their antics, so much so that her son said she could write a book about them.

So, she did!

There are now five in the series of ‘Tales of Cackleberry House’, each sharing a story inspired by a farm animal or funny incident on the property.

From the Irish Wolfhound who was scared of everything, to the red cattle dog that taught him the ropes – every character in the book is real, although many of the stories have been embellished for fun.

Kaye does all her own illustrations as well, using a mixed medium of watercolour, ink and acrylic penicils on water colour paper.

“I found my own method and own forms,” said Kaye.

“Now I’ve got them all down pat.”

Once the stories are created, she scans them into the Canva app and creates the books from scratch.

She then self-publishes them, and they are available both in digital and hard copy.

You can purchase them through her website thetalesofcackleberrylodge.com.au or through Amazon.

The books are suitable for children aged three to 10 years of age and Kaye is available for author talks at any local schools.

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Children’s author Kaye Ogilvie with her ‘Tales of Cackleberry House’

The star of the books, Farmer Dodds attending to the cattle

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