Local businesswoman publishes second children’s book
Local businesswoman publishes second children’s book
Penrith businesswoman Lisa Jackson is publishing her second children’s book after the response to her debut brought school visits, invitations to Brownie groups and repeated requests for another adventure.
Doctor April and the Slam Dunk Surprise is published on 24 September 2026. It is the second book in The Amazing Adventures of Doctor April series, following Doctor April and the Rainbow Farts, which Lisa self-published in 2025.
The series follows Doctor April as she takes children on extraordinary adventures in a magical hospital lift. The latest story brings a basketball twist to the world readers first discovered in her debut.
Lisa, who runs Acorn Marketing, says the encouragement from readers gave her the confidence to return to writing alongside her marketing business.
“The first book was a bit of a punt,” said Lisa. “I had a story I wanted to tell, but I had no idea whether anyone would buy it, let alone enjoy it. The response has been so lovely. People have fallen in love with Doctor April and her adventures, and I kept being asked when the next book was coming out. In the end, I thought I’d better get on with writing it!”
Since publishing her first book, Lisa has visited schools and Brownie groups, sharing her story and talking to young people about reading and writing. What began as a personal creative project has brought opportunities she had never expected.
“One of the most memorable messages came from a mum whose autistic son usually read graphic novels and rarely picked up other books,” said Lisa. “She told me he read Doctor April and the Rainbow Farts in two hours, then came home from school the next day and read it again. Knowing that something I’d written had made him want to pick up a book and keep reading meant such a lot.”
Lisa has received positive feedback from readers aged 4 to 74, as well as parents telling her how much their children enjoyed the story. Meeting young readers in person has been another highlight.
“Going into schools and Brownie groups has been wonderful. Hearing the children’s questions and seeing their reactions makes the story feel real in a completely different way. I hadn’t imagined all those experiences when I first sat down to write.”
The Doctor April character was inspired by Lisa’s daughter April, whose love of reading, fascination with the human body and ambition to become a doctor helped spark the idea for the series.
While writing the first book involved a steep learning curve, Lisa approached the second with a clearer understanding of the self-publishing process.
“There was so much to learn the first time, from editing and illustrations to getting the finished book published,” she said. “This time I knew a little more about what I was doing, although there’s always something new to learn. I love my work at Acorn Marketing, and writing gives me a different creative outlet alongside it. I’m excited to see what opportunities this new book brings.”
Doctor April and the Slam Dunk Surprise will be available from 24 September 2026 on Amazon,
priced at £8.99, from select local bookshops and directly from Lisa.
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