At just 12 years old Somerset West’s Declan Opperman has achieved what many aspiring writers dream of, publishing not one, but four books.

Inspired by his English teacher at De Hoop Primary School, Damian Baumgart, whom he admired for his ability to write about anything that came to mind, Declan began his writing journey last year.

“I wanted to be like my teacher,” he shared, reflecting on the spark that ignited his passion for storytelling.

What followed was a whirlwind of creativity, with Declan completing his first book in just three days. By March he had started writing the Boo’s Adventures series, and by June, his stories were officially published.

Declan explained that editing was the most time-consuming part of the process, requiring meticulous attention to detail to ensure each story was polished. To avoid rushing he completed the books one by one, dedicating time to each story to meet his standards before moving on to the next.

Small life lessons

“Boo is about a little boy with blue hair,” Declan related. “The books focus on small life lessons, such as the consequences of lying or watching too much TV. For example, Boo may lie, and his mom warns him that his nose will grow. Boo doesn’t believe her, does the opposite, and eventually learns that his mom was right. It’s all about teaching Boo to trust his mom and do the right thing the first time.”

Regarding the inspiration for the themes in his stories, Declan said: “I wanted to help children who are constantly doing naughty stuff and hopefully encourage them to stop. Kids aged four to seven are easier to help break bad habits, while it’s harder for older kids. I also really wanted to help younger kids learn to read while learning a life lesson at the same time.”

Declan hopes his books will encourage young readers to reflect on their actions and make better choices. “I would like them to tell themselves, ‘Wow, I should really stop doing that, otherwise something bad will happen’.”

His favourite book in the series is Boo’s Square Eyes, which holds a special place in his heart. “It inspired me to write more stories,” he shared.

The books were published by Tertius van Eeden of Print on Demand. Declan explained how the opportunity came about: “My mom initially wanted to have the books printed just for me, and her friend, Aletté Winkler, kindly recommended Print on Demand. Tertius contacted my mom, saying he saw potential in the Boo books and wanted to publish them, and here we are!”

The young author found the publishing process both exciting and nerve-wracking.

“I was really nervous because I didn’t think it would look good as a finished product,” he admitted.

“But it was really cool to have a ‘real meeting’ and see how the whole printing process works. My mom helped with the final layout and talking to the printers. I just gave the thumbs up if I liked it or not.”

Declan’s favourite author is Jaco Jacobs and his favourite book Die Gevaarlikste Speletjie op Aarde. Inspired by his love for storytelling, he balances school, hobbies and writing by jotting ideas down during class. “I like to write ideas for future books in class, so when I get home I can start writing without thinking about what it’s about.”

A source of joy

For Declan writing is a source of joy and motivation. “I love to see people happy, and my happiness is writing.”

He plans to continue the Boo’s Adventures series for as long as possible.

“I do plan to continue the series for a long time, well, at least as long as I still can.”

Looking ahead, Declan hopes to expand his audience. “I would like to write for ages 12 and up in future, but let’s see how many copies I can sell from my first books; hopefully many, as my first prints are officially sold out!”

Asked for advice for aspiring young writers, Declan said: “Keep believing and never stop reading.”

Seeing his books published and shared with readers has been a proud and rewarding experience. “I am really proud of myself for accomplishing this; it’s amazing to get the positive feedback from the little readers.”

The most exciting part of his journey is inspiring others. “The most exciting part is that young readers can chase their dreams even more.”

He credits his family for their unwavering support. “My family was really supportive while I was making the books. Without them I would never have accomplished this.”

• The books are in the process of being published on Takealot. In the meantime those interested in ordering a copy can contact Elmari Opperman on 082 661 0400 or visit “Boo’s Adventures” on Facebook.