A journalist and documentary photographer has published his second story in a series of children’s books.

Garry Cook, who is a sub-editor for Express Newspapers and previously worked for a number of regional dailies, has written and illustrated Albert the Pug and the Haunted Castle – the second in his series of books about a mischievous black dog.

The book is a rhyming story aimed at three to eight-year-olds and are based on a Garry’s real-life pug called Albert.

Garry was previously a sub-editor on a long-term freelance basis at the Lancashire Telegraph, Lancashire Evening Post and Blackpool Gazette and had also published a number of photobooks.

He said:  “I started writing stories about Albert to entertain my son. I chose to write about Albert because he was a dog with an amazing personality. Pugs are bred as lapdogs and would spend their entire lives sat on your knee if you allowed them to.

“But Albert was adventurous. He liked exploring and loved long walks. I would often take him up Darwen Tower or to the beach at Formby – and even up mountains in the Lake District – and Albert would always be leading the way.

“While my son enjoyed the stories, his love of drawing led me to illustrate them. After that, Teddy and his friends could not get enough of them.

“So, rather than pass around a stapled book of rough drawings I decided to publish the book so it can sit on bookshelves alongside all the other brilliant illustrated books children love to read.

“Now the book is being sold around the world and I find it is bought by as many pug owners as parents.”

For further information on the Albert the Pug books, click here.