Ten-year-old turns bestseller with swashbuckling pirate tale

A talented young author has produced a best-seller at the first attempt — and all to help fund his new school.

Ten-year-old John Buckley’s pirate character, Mr Fibber Bobble, is set to become a household name in north Cork with a series of books charting his swash-buckling adventures on the seven seas planned.

The first print run of 100 copies of Mr Fibber Bobble: The Adventure Begins, sold out in just a few weeks, and a second run of another 100 copies came hot off the presses yesterday.

And all the proceeds are going towards a building fund for Scoil Bhríde in Rathcormac, Co Cork, where a new school building is under construction.

John, who is preparing to begin fourth class next month, lives in Kildinan, near Rathcormac, with his parents, Bernard and Siobhán, and his younger sister, Katelyn, 6.

An avid reader, and a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean films he said the idea for the book came to him “just out of the blue” one day.

“In school, we have a copy where we can write whatever we want,” he said.

“We usually write about our day. But I got bored with that and just started writing about pirates and stuff.”

He created Mr Fibber Bobble — an ordinary man who dreams of leading a pirate’s life.

Within a few weeks, not only had John created a motley cast of characters to join Mr Fibber Bobble on the Purple Pearl ship, he had also written enough material for a 14-page book, and also illustrated it himself.

Then, with help from his mother, the book was typed up and sent off to Fermoy Print.

“It was amazing to see them all in print. I thought the idea was just going to stay in my copybook,” John said.

“And I was surprised that they sold out. But I’m delighted because I thought it would be a good idea to help the school. I really like school and it’s a good school.”

He has already raised close to €500 for Scoil Bhríde’s building fund.

But despite being on summer holidays, he is already working on the second book in the Mr Fibber Bobble series, charting his adventures on the mysterious island of Tong Tong Tooy — and more books are planned.

And his advice for other young authors?

“Just see where your imagination takes you.”

Mr Fibber Bobble: The Adventure Begins, priced €5, is on sale in Rathcormac in Spar, Dooley’s post office and shop, and Marion’s Hair Salon, and in Fermoy in SuperValu, Fermoy Books, and the Book Shop.