Beginner’s Pluck: Matt Coyne's debut is heartwarming, funny, and poignant

Life changed when, as a new dad, Matt wrote a long post on his Facebook page which went viral worldwide. He created a blog, and soon heard from some literary agents asking for a book.

Matt Coyne's latest book is 'Frank & Red'. He has previously published 'Dummy' and 'Man Versus Toddler'.

Matt constantly bunked off school, but he’s a passionate and eclectic reader.

“English was my subject,” he says.

When he said that he wanted to be a writer, his career teacher handed him an application form to be a fitter for British gas cookers.

Matt worked at a dog track, and as a toilet-roll packer, before falling into graphic design.

“I did that for 20 years and didn’t write at all.”

Life changed when, as a new dad, he wrote a long post on his Facebook page.

“It went viral worldwide,” he says. “And press and radio picked it up.”

He created a blog, and soon heard from some literary agents asking for a book.

“I wrote 30,000 words as a test and landed a two-book deal.”

Dummy and Man Versus Toddler became bestsellers and have sparked a stand-up routine.

I didn’t want to write a third book about my son, and I had an idea for a novel.

“I had the opening scene of a kid looking over a fence, and nothing more. I love the characters and wrote the whole thing in a year. I’ve never loved a job more.”

Who is Matt Coyne?

Date/place of birth: 1974/ Sheffield.

Education: All Saints School, Sheffield; Manchester Metropolitan University, English.

Home: Barnsley.

Family: Partner Lyndsay and son Charlie, 8.

The day job: Full-time writer.

In another life: “I’d be on a stage at Glastonbury.”

Favourite writers: John Ronson; Philip Pullman; Mary Shelley; Frank Cottrell Boyce.

Second book: Two children’s books Father’s Day and The Only Monster are due for publication, with two more to come. “I’m writing them with Charlie.”

Top tip: Know when to walk away. “Most of my writing occurs when I’m out walking or in the pub with friends.”

Website: www.man-vs-baby.co.uk

Instagram: @manversusbaby

The debut

Frank & Red; €27.54/ Kindle, €11.70

A curmudgeon, Frank is a recluse who never leaves the house. His only companion is his wife — and she’s a ghost. When the talkative six-year-old Red moves next door, he’s horrified. 

Red is struggling. His parents are separated. He’s bullied at school, but he’s curious and smart. 

An unlikely, life-changing friendship slowly develops.

The verdict: Heartwarming, funny, and poignant. I laughed. I cried. I loved it.