HC signs Alex Gregory's 'Dadventures' book for fathers

HarperCollins is to publish Dadventures, a "truly practical book" aimed at busy dads who want to spend quality time with their kids, by Olympian Alex Gregory.

Katya Shipster, editorial director HarperNonFiction, acquired world rights for Dadventures: 100 Outdoor Adventures for Daring Dads and Fearless Kids by the Olympic gold medallist rower and father of three from Jo Bell at Bell Lomax Moreton and Katie Atkin at Milk Management.

The title is a "truly practical book" is aimed at busy but daring dads who want to spend quality time with their kids without doing a sport or taking them for a theme park day out or for soft play.

The book is divided into accessible categories to fit into various time slots work within the busy day: an after school walk, a 30-minute wander, a two hour runaround, a half-day experience, a full day exploration, and an overnight expedition. The book will be "charmingly" illustrated with line drawings from Gregory and his three children and will be published in time for Father’s Day in 2018.

Gregory said: "The opportunity to work with HarperCollins on my new book Dadventures is something I'm extremely excited about. As a child it was the time I spent outdoors that I remember most vividly. Those skills, tricks and adventures I had are all things I'm passionate about passing on to my own children now. I hope reading this will give others the ideas and confidence to step outside and make some lasting memories together."

Shipster said: “I’m hugely proud to be working with Alex on his first book – this book is essential for all those dads who are fed up with dreaded soft play and just want to know how to entertain their rabble with little expense or advance preparation. Alex is bang on the money with his ideas, and his approach of dividing the day into time slots is hugely practical and will appeal to anyone who wants an easy, achievable solution to an otherwise empty family day. Alex is intrepid and inspirational, and his sense of adventure will be entirely infectious for families everywhere.”