Cabot Learning Federation

BBA Teacher Could Become Published Author

Jenny Pickup, a 29 year-old English teacher at Bristol Brunel Academy, has joined best-selling authors Terry Jones, Kate Mosse and Robert Llewellyn to pitch her idea for a book directly to readers on the revolutionary new crowd-funded publishing platform Unbound.co.uk.

Described in a video pitch on Unbound.co.uk, Unbelievable will be a paranormal coming of age thriller about Neona White, a rather extraordinary teenager who begins a dangerous quest to unravel the mysteries of her supernatural identity.

Jenny was challenged to write the book two years ago by a year nine class at Bristol Brunel Academy (now in year 11). She uploaded early chapters to the online writing community ABCtales.com, who secured a partnership with Unbound in August. On the strength of her gripping story, the ABCtales community chose her to be the first unpublished author featured on Unbound.co.uk.

Launched in May 2011, Unbound has been described in the media as a cross between a literary Dragons’ Den and The X-Factor for books. Visitors to the website watch authors pitch their ideas for the book that they want to write by video and can read early extracts. Readers choose which titles they want to fund, putting the power to publish in their hands.

Jenny Pickup said, “Unbelievable started life a few years ago as a story that I was challenged to write by some of my students, but it grew and grew and now it just keeps on growing. If enough people pledge towards my book, I will reach the dizzying heights of being a published author. This is your chance to help someone completely unknown (i.e. me) achieve their dream.”

In order to publish Unbelievable, Jenny needs to find just 400 readers to help fund it. Readers have a choice as to the level they wish to pledge towards the writing and production of the book, with benefits ranging from £6 for an e-book to the chance to buy immortality as a character in the book for £250. All supporters will have their name credited in the finished book.

You can watch Jenny’s Pitch at: www.unbound.co.uk/books/unbelievable