Sonia Beldom is a TV producer, creative consultant, performance coach, therapist, London bus driver and now…a children’s author – is there anything she can’t do?
‘Granny Franny’s Big Red Bus’ is inspired by Sonia’s real-life experience driving old double-decker buses around London, but also the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on bus drivers across the nation.
Forced to briefly hang up her driver’s hat, she has now released a full colour picture book for children aged 3 – 7 years old, and is hoping to raise as much money as possible for chosen charity, BUSES4HOMELESS and charities that support bus drivers affected by the virus. Sonia commented: “Lockdown had me thinking of all kinds of ways of reinventing myself but also supporting as many people as possible, that’s when I decided to write a children’s book to support a national charity. It was extremely heart-breaking to see so many bus drivers affected by the virus, so I knew that I had to do something effective for the industry that I love.
“The story is based on a Granny called Franny who buys a big red bus to surprise her grandchildren. I’ve always loved buses and when Ken Bruce and Charles Nove offered me the chance to drive one of their fleet, I jumped at the chance and spent my life savings on getting my PCV bus license. It’s the best fun you can have on four wheels and everywhere you go in an old bus, people stop, smile and wave. I wanted to inject that sense of fun and adventure in a story about an inspiring granny who is always surprising her grandchildren, and getting herself into hilarious scrapes; whilst supporting a cause closer to my heart than ever”.
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“IT IS GREAT THAT SONIA’S EXPERIENCES DRIVING OUR BUSES GAVE HER THE IDEA TO WRITE THESE STORIES. I LOVE THIS BOOK; THE PICTURES ARE GREAT, AND IT DESERVES TO BE A HUGE SUCCESS”
BBC Radio 2’s Ken Bruce
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“THE STORY IS FUNNY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY GET STUCK IN ICKY, STICKY MUD”
Joseph, aged 5
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“THE CHILDREN IN MY SCHOOL LOVE THIS BOOK; WE ARE USING IT TO TEACH THEM ABOUT TRANSPORT, COMPASSION AND STORYTELLING”
Paulo Burgess, Headteacher
The book is available on Amazon in paperback (£4.99) and Kindle for FREE unlimited reading. 10% of the profits will be donated to BUSES4HOMELESS and The Transportation Benevolent Fund.
