Weymouth girl sells 1,000 pounds to meet world record criteria

Now, just weeks after putting her book on Amazon, the young writer has sold over 1,000 copies and already has her next book ready.

Her mother, Chelsie Syme, said: “We found out last Friday or Saturday that she had sold 1,000 copies and it was just overwhelming.

“Bella-Jay was really proud of herself, she had a big smile on her face.

“It’s just not something that happens often and it’s just very surreal.”

The Lost Cat book written by Bella-Jay Dark Picture: Chelsie Syme

It all started after Bella-Jay told her mum she was going to write a book and Ms Symes initially thought it was ‘one of those things’ children do and something she would say “wow”.

Following a trip to a book fair, publishers Ginger Fyre Press decided they would like to produce it, as the book has since been a smash hit.

Ms Syme continued: “We read the reviews together and they all sound good.

“She has now prepared her second for publication, which again concerns Snowy the cat.

“She just put the designs together herself, with the editor ready to go.”

The talented youngster’s mum said Bella could be very opinionated about how the book turned out and wasn’t afraid to send it back if she didn’t agree with the publishers.

His first title ‘The Lost Cat”, features a feline who goes on an adventure but quickly learns an important lesson when he gets lost: that he shouldn’t go out without his mother.

Ms Syme says they initially contacted Guinness five to six weeks ago about the world record, before selling 1,000 copies, and were told it could take 12 weeks to get a response.

After sending in further proof of meeting the criteria, the family now say it’s a waiting game.

The current record is held by Dorothy Straight who wrote her first book at age four in 1962, but was not published until age six.

Bella-Jay’s book can be purchased on Amazon and through Waterstones for £4.