Image Source: Hugh Stewart
[Saba Sports News] Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has recently announced a significant new venture, revealing his entry into the literary world with a forthcoming book deal.
Collaborating with HarperCollins, Cummins is set to release a diverse collection of books aimed at captivating a broad audience. This collection will include a series of illustrated books for children, a picture book, and a nonfiction work. Scheduled for publication in October 2024, the children’s series, titled “Howzat Pat,” targets readers aged eight and above, exploring themes of friendship, belonging, teamwork, and leadership, among others. Additionally, Cummins is working with acclaimed writer Ben Mckelvey on a nonfiction book focused on modern leadership and decision-making, expected to be released by Christmas 2024.
Cummins also shared insights into his personal life, emphasizing the importance of reading instilled in him by his parents. He reminisced about his family’s love for books and how, even amidst a busy life of school, sports, and family activities, they cherished reading. He recounted memories of his family’s reading habits during holidays and expressed a desire to pass on this love for reading, sports, and adventure to his son Albie and children across Australia through his publishing endeavors.
Pat Cummins highlighted his upbringing in a family where both parents, including his mother, a maths teacher with a keen interest in the world and reading, and his father, an avid reader and cricket fan, fostered a love for books.
He shared his nostalgia for the adventures found in books and the balance of enjoying literature, playing backyard cricket, and beach outings. Now, as a father, he aims to nurture a similar passion for reading and exploration in his son and all Australian children with his upcoming books.
“Life was busy with school, sport and family. Mum was a maths teacher, who was always curious about the world and loved reading, dad was always reading too when he wasn’t watching cricket or listening to Bruce Springsteen.”
“For as long as I can remember on family holidays on those long car trips, you would find us kids diving into a novel, I loved the adventure of a good book, just as much as I loved backyard cricket with my older brothers or being at the beach. Now that I have my own young family, I want to encourage that combined love of sport, adventure and reading in my son Albie and in all Australian kids, with my children’s publishing program,” Cummins shared.