Fantasy of Flight Founder and Creator Kermit Weeks Wins Third Place in Independent Publisher Book Awards
Former Aerobatics Champ Earns Bronze IPPY for Aviation-Themed Children’s Book “All of Life is a School”
The founder and creator of Fantasy of Flight, Kermit Weeks, received a Bronze IPPY Award in the 13th Annual Independent Publisher Book Awards for his recently published children’s book, “All of Life is a School” (KWIP Publishing, $19.95). The aviation-themed children’s story was Weeks’ first published work.
Weeks won the Bronze Award in the category “Children’s Books, Ages 7 and Under,” placing in a field of approximately 50 contenders. A total of 3,380 books were in entered in 65 categories the national contest. Launched in 1996, the Independent Publisher Book Awards were designed to bring increased recognition to the deserving but often unsung titles published by independent authors and publishers. Established as the first awards program open exclusively to independents, the "IPPYs" recognize hundreds of the year's best books, bringing them to the attention of booksellers, buyers, librarians, and book lovers around the world. All independent, university, small press, and self-publishers who produce books intended for the North American market are eligible to enter titles copyrighted or released in 2008.
“It’s an amazing honor to have earned a Bronze IPPY for my first book,” said Weeks. “Writing a children’s book is something I’ve always wanted to do, and of course, the aviation theme is a part of me, so to receive this endorsement from the Independent Publishers Book Awards is truly gratifying. I wrote this book to develop characters for Fantasy of Flight as well as deliver a valuable lesson I have learned in life, which is that All of Life is a School and is the title of the book. I have never stopped learning and hope it will inspire children to do the same. While this award is meaningful to me on a personal level, I’m also excited it may bring even more awareness to the story and its positive message. ”
A former aerobatics world champion, Weeks owns the world’s largest private collection of rare and vintage aircraft, and showcases his collection for the public at Fantasy of Flight, Central Florida’s premier aviation attraction. His children’s book brings to life some of Fantasy of Flight’s most historically significant airplanes through colorful characters that existed during the Golden Age of Aviation.
The main character in the book is a little yellow monoplane named Gee Bee Zee. In the story, Zee becomes a little too eager to take to the skies and takes off on an important assignment without paying close attention to his flight teacher’s lessons. If not for the backup of his older brother, Jimmy G., Zee might have failed at his task. In the end, he learns a valuable lesson.
Eager Zee is a reproduction of the 1931 Gee Bee Model Z Super Sportster that guests can see up close at Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight attraction. Older, wiser Jimmy G. is the red-and-white monoplane based on the Gee Bee Model R-1 and named after famed pilot Jimmy Doolittle, who flew it to victory in the Thompson Trophy race of 1932.
The Gee Bee brothers are accompanied by a colorful lineup of expressive vintage aircraft characters from the Golden Age of Aviation, brought to life by Weeks’ creative imagination and story combined with great illustrations by Project Firefly. The scene is set at the mythical “Fantasy of Flight” airfield, where many types of airplanes created in the 1920s and ’30s live and where older, wiser airplanes help youngsters push the boundaries of flight.
The true-life Fantasy of Flight is the premier aviation-themed attraction open since 1995 in Polk City, Fla., and the only aircraft museum in the world showcasing daily aerial demonstrations for guests. Weeks displays more than 40 vintage airplanes at the attraction, while others in his collection are in the process of being restored for flight. When Weeks is in town on the weekends, he sometimes flies the aerial demonstration of the day and is on-hand to autograph and personalize copies of “All of Life is a School.” The book is available for $19.95 plus tax at the Fantasy of Flight gift shop, open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., or can be ordered online at www.geebee.com.
Project Firefly illustrators Ron Cohee and Robert Stanton, former Disney animators, with art coordination by Pam Darley, give effervescence to Weeks’ characters through bright hues, cartoon-like features and realistic depictions of flight maneuvers.