COCHRANE— A young aspiring author from Cochrane has published his second book and donated copies of his latest story to essential workers in Town.
Zach and his Crew Have the Best, Wild Adventures of their Lives, was penned near Christmas of last year, by nine-year-old Jude Greff.
Jude supplied 20 copies of the book each to the Cochrane Fire Service, the staff of Safeway, the Cochrane Urgent Care Centre, and the RCMP on Friday (Aug. 28).
Jude, who is all set to start Grade 5 this fall, penned his second novel about the main character, Zack, his father, the captain of a boat, Captain Chris, and their magical pet monkey, Shootout.
The book tells the story of the trio, who travel through portals made by Shootout and his magical tail, as they make their way around the world, helping trapped animals, stopping robberies and even helping Santa Claus find his lost reindeer.
Jude said that he has had a little help with the story from a volunteer at his school, but most of the ideas come from his imagination.
“My mind just goes into its imagination mode,” he said. “And then I just think. It’s just, like, super easy, it’s one of the easiest things to do. You just think and let your imagination open.”
Jude said he read a book about a spy named Zack, and liked the name, and the name of the monkey, Shootout, he came up with all on his own.
Jude is halfway through his third book and said he plans to keep writing because he enjoys it so much.
“It’s amazing. You get to use your imagination. Like, you get to use anything,” he said, “You think and it just pops up in your head. It’s the best thing you can do. It's one of the easiest things and one of the funnest things. It’s fun. It’s just fun.”
Jude dedicated the book to COVID-19 first responders and front line workers.
“Thanks to firefighters, doctors, nurses, police, COVID vaccine researchers, ambulance workers, teachers, grocery workers, truck drivers and everyone out there working,” the dedication reads. “They are brave. They are helpful. They are risking their lives. They can read this book to their kids.”
Jude also thanked his sister, Natalya, who shares a room with him and was patient while he would write at night.
Jude said that he dedicated the book to first responders because of the important work that they do.
“While COVID is going on, they’re super brave, and they do amazing things. They help save the world from bad things that could happen,” he said.
Cochrane Fire Services Fire Services Inspector Jeff Avery accepted 20 copies of the book to hand out to the members of the department.
“This definitely means a lot to us, especially when all of this stuff is going on and some kids are at home,” Avery said. “He seems to be a very talented young man, two books already and working on a third. Just that they’re thinking about us definitely means a lot.”
The fire hall has been closed to the public, only allowing in on-duty firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Avery told Jude that once it reopens he could come back for a visit and a tour of the facility.
“We wish we could do more,” he said. “But we’re just not open to the public.”
Avery noted that the books will be handed out to the staff and members of the community.
“A lot of firefighters have kids here, some grandkids, so we’re going to hand them out to the staff and they’re going to take them home to their kids and if we have leftovers, we’ll hand them out to some kindergarten kids, let them know who wrote the book for us and spread the word that way.”
The Cochrane Fire Service offers a public outreach and education program, through which families can come to tour the station, meet firefighters, and learn a little more about the important work they do.
“This shows us that it is kind of working when they try to give something back to us.”
