Zephyr scoops Garrod’s first fiction series about his dog Jack-Jack

Zephyr has scooped Ben Garrod’s first fiction series of four stories, The Adventures of a Dog called Jack-Jack, about his canine companion.

Publisher Fiona Kennedy acquired world rights from Jo Sarsby at Jo Sarsby Management. Jack-Jack, A Dog in Africa will be published in paperback, e-book and audiobook in April 2024, with Jack-Jack, How to Train Your Human following in September and two more books in 2025, all illustrated in black and white by Charli Vince.

Garrod said: "It’s the best job in the world when you get to write about your best mate. When he happens to be a snake-wrangling, chimp-wrestling, snack-loving dog, it doesn’t feel like work at all. I first met Jack-Jack while I was filming in West Africa and, in what can only be described as the ultimate human/animal bromance, we both decided he would come and live with me in the UK. We’ve been on so many adventures together, it just seemed right we’d share them with young readers too."

Kennedy added: "Jack-Jack is the world’s coolest dog, so when Ben said he felt inspired to write about Jack’s adventures in Jack-Jack’s voice, it proved the perfect next step into fiction."

Garrod is professor of evolutionary biology and science engagement at the University of East Anglia (UEA). He is a TV presenter and radio broadcaster, as well as being an ambassador for conservation organisations. His non-fiction series are also published by Zephyr.