Former NWN reporter's book flirts with the UK 10 ten chart

Former Newbury Weekly News reporter, Chris McCormack, wrote the children’s book PONG! especially for the iPad and watched it rise through the iBook chart, breaking into the top 10 children’s books on iPad over its first weekend of release.
PONG! is about a giant space being who loves to race but it also includes a secondary layer of educational questions, further information about planets and mini games to aid learning and understanding.
Mr McCormack, aged 39, of Wash Common said: “It was great seeing it rise through the charts as word of mouth got round. Some friends on Facebook started downloading it too which pushed it further up the charts. I doubt it will sustain its position – the chart fluctuates so quickly - but to be ranked alongside such books for a short time was amazing.”
He said: “My wife’s a primary school teacher and literacy co-ordinator so she helped with that aspect. She made sure PONG! could be used to introduce a topic on space and the planets and that the extra learning material was pitched at the right age group.”
Newbury artist Naomi Lunn produced the illustrations.
“She used to teach my son at nursery school – I don’t know how we got onto the subject but before I knew it I had great pictures to go with my words. They really brought the whole project alive,” said Chris.
“At first I did a printed book for fun, but then decided to scrap that and rewrite everything for an iPad book. That decision was the right one,” said Chris, who set up his own digital publishing company - Batmack Limited - in order to produce the iBook.
The ‘book’ also includes a voiceover (and video) and again West Berkshire talent was used.
“I joined a Newbury writers’ group called WordWatchers. One of my fellow members, Julian Dobbins, revealed a hidden talent for voiceovers. I owe him a beer! I think his reading is great.”
PONG! is available only on iPad at the moment, although Chris is considering a more traditional paperback version.
“I might produce a print version – the problem is getting them in bookshops if you don’t have a traditional publishing deal.”
And is the money rolling in?
“Hah. We’re not talking big money, I’m afraid. It’s only 99p to buy it and Apple keeps a chunk of that but you never know.”

PONG! is available to download only on iBooks on iPad at the following link: http://bit.ly/ipadpong