Homepage - Wayne Mardell Books

Welcome to the official website of children’s author, Wayne Mardell.

Thanks for stopping by! While you’re here, check out my books, learn a bit about me and keep up-to-date by following my blog and social media.

MY BOOKS

EBOOK GIVEAWAY!

I am giving away 200 copies of the Pete’s First parkrun eBook to any reader who will leave an honest review on Amazon after reading it.

AND

As a bonus and thank you for your review, you will also receive an exclusive link to the Pete’s First parkrun game I made called Pete-Run!

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(AND RECEIVE OTHER NEWS AND CONTENT!)

ABOUT ME

MY SOCIALS

waynemardell

Please enjoy my (scary) 66 word story for my schoo

Please enjoy my (scary) 66 word story for my school's Book Week competition. 😁(Better with sound 🔊👍)
The story had to follow the theme "campfire stories".
I have so much fun writing these stories each year...but it sure is a challenge!

#BookWeek2024 #bookweek #66wordstory

After that #dadjoke, my favourite subject is Sigh-

After that #dadjoke, my favourite subject is Sigh-ence! 😉😂

Please consider giving me a follow for more quality content 😉 and so you don’t miss any of my picture book updates! 📚
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

☕My final stop in the ‘Wayne’s Café Cappucc

☕My final stop in the ‘Wayne’s Café Cappuccino Crawl’ was The Mustard Seed.

After finding a table, the young fellow behind the counter came to take my order. (It was that sort of establishment.) Dare I order the chocolate brownie for a third time in a row?! In my mission to find the best cappuccino in town (according to me!), I now found myself on a side quest to find the best brownie! If I am being 100% truthful, it was more of a quest to find a brownie that would truly satisfy my brownie expectations. The last two were a little disappointing.

A short time later the same young fellow who took my order began HIS quest of delivering me my coffee. I watched as he gingerly lifted the saucer from the counter. He then assumed the classic ‘half-squat stance’ before beginning the long trek to my table. As he slowly made his way towards me with his little baby steps, almost a shuffle, I could see the coffee toing and froing, just teasing the lip of the mug, like the ocean’s waves getting closer and closer to catching you as you ran away from the tide towards the dry sand with childlike glee. BUT, sadly, there was no glee for the young fellow delivering my coffee, but a look of fear and determination in his eyes! He DID NOT want to spill that coffee! I was silently rooting for him, but was sure the dam walls were about to burst, with a devastating sloshing of coffee. I could sense the relief he felt as he placed the saucer down on the table…without spilling a drop!!! In terms of tides, it was well and truly in on this coffee. Perhaps too far in. This just made the young fellow’s mighty feat even more impressive!😁

The little milk froth it had was still quite nice, with a generous coating of chocolate powder. The coffee was nice and smooth, but not super strong.

The chocolate brownie was nicely presented, with the classic zig-zag of chocolate sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The brownie itself was heated through and super soft and moist. A clear winner over the last two brownies I tried.

Overall, the cappuccino scores 4/5 cups 👍 (and the choc fudge brownie gets 4.5/5 nom-noms 😉).
#coffee #coffeelovers #authorlife #coffeetime #coffeeshop

She's not wrong! 😂👟👟🌳🏃 Please cons

She's not wrong! 😂👟👟🌳🏃

Please consider giving me a follow for more quality content 😉 and so you don’t miss any of my picture book updates! 📚
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #runhappy #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

Who can relate? 😁 . @parkrunau @parkrunuk @park

Who can relate? 😁
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #runhappy #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

☕Next up on ‘Wayne’s Café Cappuccino Crawl’ was The Original Food Co.

Name: Great
Location: Great
Award Winning Bakery: Yes!
Décor: Grandma chic
Vibe: Ghost town

As I entered, I felt a little sad for the owner, standing there behind the counter of an empty café, just waiting for someone to arrive. I ordered my coffee and inspected their limited range of sweet baked items. The chocolate fudge brownie looked tasty, and it would give me a good head-to-head comparison with last week’s slab of chocolate concrete.

I had free choice of the five small indoor tables. I chose to sit on the opposite side of the café to the counter where the owner was standing. In all honesty, I did this to avoid any awkwardness with feeling some sort of obligation to engage in small talk. I am undoubtedly and introvert at heart, so avoid unnecessary social interactions whenever possible! It was a good 10 minutes before another customer came in, and then another couple more customers followed soon after that, which made me happy for the owner.

My coffee arrived with some interesting latte art on top. There was a bit of a choc syrup flourish on top that I hadn’t seen before, so points for originality!

The coffee was hot, but not very strong in flavour. It wasn’t bitter or sour. It was just…nice. I wasn’t blown away by it.

The choc fudge brownie certainly won the ‘Battle of the Brownies’ with Susa Kitchen from last week, but it was not the best brownie I had ever eaten. Not even close.

Overall, the cappuccino scores a 3.5/5 cups 👍 (and the choc fudge brownie gets 3/5 nom-noms).

#coffee #coffeelovers #authorlife #coffeetime #coffeeshop

She's not wrong! 😂👟👟🌳🏃 Please cons

She's not wrong! 😂👟👟🌳🏃

Please consider giving me a follow for more quality content 😉 and so you don’t miss any of my picture book updates! 📚
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runners #runhappy #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

☕My next stop in the ‘Wayne’s Café Cappucci

☕My next stop in the ‘Wayne’s Café Cappuccino Crawl’ was Susa Kitchen.

The contemporary feel to the venue is understandable considering Susa Kitchen is located in one of the (many) new developments in the town, and has only been established for less than 12 months. I discovered that it is owned by the same sisters who own Lady Luck Café, which I reviewed a number of weeks back. It is located on the outskirts of town, which made it feel like a bit of a trek to get out there from the other side of town where I reside.

Upon placing my order, I needed to choose between the peanut choc scone and choc brownie…decisions, decisions! The choc brownie won by a crumb.

Only a couple of the interior tables were occupied, so I chose to sit in one of three of their cosy-looking booths. I sat there and waited to receive my order while I listened to their Motown soundtrack, which contributed to the chilled ambience of the venue. I didn’t have to wait long for my order, with what was certainly the speediest service I had received on this journey to date!

From the scoop of silky milk froth I sampled, I was expecting a super strong coffee, but it was much more subtle than anticipated. It was still a strong coffee, but not as strong as, say, my willingness to indulge in a chocolate brownie when the opportunity presents itself! Despite this, there was a nice richness to it.

Speaking of brownies, this choc brownie had to be the densest piece of cake I had ever tried! The consistency was more ‘frozen cookie dough’ than cake, which was not necessarily a bad thing! However, my grip was no match for the might of the brownie, as my hand would slide down the fork every time I tried to stab it in order chisel off a chunk. I came out of there with the forearms of a pro tennis player! It was as dense as one of my student’s maths textbooks after it had absorbed all of their tears.😁

Overall, the cappuccino scores a 4/5 cups 👍 (and the choc brownie gets 2.5/5 nom-noms).
#coffee #coffeelovers #authorlife #coffeetime #coffeeshop #waynescafecappuccinocrawl

Words to live by. 😬🧟🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️

Please consider giving me a follow for more quality content 😉 and so you don’t miss any of my picture book updates! 📚
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #runhappy #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

A #dadjoke with a double punchline *chef's kiss*👨‍🍳🤌😘

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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #runhappy #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

What name is given to a notorious hill at your loc

What name is given to a notorious hill at your local parkrun?🏔️

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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrunnerproblems #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #runhappy #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

Another classic from Veronica! 👏😁🍊 Pleas

Another classic from Veronica! 👏😁🍊

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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

☕The next chapter in the ‘Wayne’s Café Capp

☕The next chapter in the ‘Wayne’s Café Cappuccino Crawl’ was Sunday Coffee. In for his third instalment, my Dad joined me again for a coffee and chat.

I had visited this venue many times before, but not for a number of years, and not since it was home to a Pizza Hut!

There was definitely a different vibe about this place. It was modern. It was inviting. It was relaxed. There were numerous ‘zones’ to sit and enjoy your food and coffee in, which was really quite nice. My Dad and I chose a couple of very comfy looking seats by the window.

The music was perhaps a tad loud, if I have to nit-pick. But then again, I am really, really old! At least, that’s how I felt, as the café was clearly operated by a very youthful team, ‘dapping up’ their regular customers as they entered and exited. (I can see you cringing as you read that I wrote ‘dapping up’!😆)

In addition to the cappuccino, I ordered a chocolate ganache tart, which looked delectable. Sadly, it didn’t taste as good as it looked.

The coffee was not particularly hot and had a slight sour taste to me. My research tells me this may be due to the beans being a bit old/stale, or they may have been under-roasted.

The service and venue were great and overall, I gave the cappuccino 3.5/5 cups (and the choc ganache tart got 3.5/5 nom-noms).

Thanks again to my Dad for joining me!

#coffee #coffeelovers #authorlife #coffeetime #coffeeshop #waynescafecappuccinocrawl

This is my new motto! 😁 Please consider giving

This is my new motto! 😁

Please consider giving me a follow for more quality content 😉 and so you don’t miss any of my picture book updates! 📚
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #runhappy #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

Father's Day is less than a month away in many cou

Father's Day is less than a month away in many countries! Don't miss out on grabbing these titles - Dads love reading these hilarious, relatable, re-readable stories to their kids!

You WILL NOT Poop in My Car! is available in hardcover, paperback and eBook. You WILL NOT Pee in My Pool! is currently available in hardcover.

#dadjokes #fathersday #childrensbooks #newpicturebooks #pug #pugs #newbookalert #toilethumour #toilethumor #WeeJokes #storytime #bedtimestory #booksforkids #pool #poolparty

Love this one! 😂🚫🏃✂️ Please consider

Love this one! 😂🚫🏃✂️

Please consider giving me a follow for more quality content 😉 and so you don’t miss any of my picture book updates! 📚
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkwalkerandproud #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #runhappy #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks

☕The next stop on ‘Wayne’s Café Cappuccino

☕The next stop on ‘Wayne’s Café Cappuccino Crawl’ was Rival Brothers Coffee Roasters. I arrived just before the lunchtime rush, so there was a nice and quiet atmosphere and plenty of tables to choose from. There were minimal baked goods on offer, but their blueberry muffins looked pretty good, so I gave into temptation once again.

I had been to Rival Brothers before on a Saturday morning after parkrun, but only for a takeaway coffee. It was not good. However, I am now a firm believer in drinks in takeaway cups not tasting as good as drinks in mugs, so I was willing to give it a go without any bias. It was fair to say, however, that my expectations were not particularly high.

The cappuccino was quite strong, but lacked a bit of the richness I enjoy. The more I drank, however, the better the coffee seemed to get! Perhaps it just needed a little stir?🤷‍♂️

Overall, the cappuccino received 4/5 cups 👍 (and the blueberry muffin gets 4/5 nom-noms 😉).

#coffee #coffeelovers #authorlife #coffeetime #coffeeshop

Not one of Veronica's best jokes tbh, but good on

Not one of Veronica's best jokes tbh, but good on her for owning it! 😂🐮🐄

Please consider giving me a follow for more quality content 😉 and so you don’t miss any of my picture book updates! 📚
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

☕The next chapter in the ‘Wayne’s Café Capp

☕The next chapter in the ‘Wayne’s Café Cappuccino Crawl’ was Sazón Espresso. An establishment I have frequented many times and enjoyed. I guess this whole café crawl idea came about as Sazón was the only café I would ever go to for a coffee when I was out and about. (My wife also exclusively drinks Sazón hot chocolates. ☺️) I hadn’t really tried anywhere else! So, Sazón’s cappuccinos were going to be the benchmark for me. Still, it was good to go back and test their consistency. I hadn’t been to Sazón for some time and there appeared to be a significant number of new staff since my last visit.

Being a cooler morning, I decided to order a piece of toasted banana bread with my large mug of cappuccino. My coffee was presented to me in a very large mug and was nice and hot. Not burn-my-tongue hot, but hot enough that I had the time to consume the largest and most delicious slice of banana bread I’ve ever had, and still maintain a satisfactory drinking temperature. Matching the banana bread, it was on what can only be described as the thickest plate I’ve ever seen! It looked like one of those saucers a massive terracotta pot sits on!

The cappuccino had a very strong flavour and was so rich that it wore a monocle and top hat, just for the aesthetic! 😆

Overall, the cappuccino was rich, smooth and strong, just the way I like it, earning it a perfect 5/5 cups 👍 (and the banana bread gets 5/5 nom-noms 😉 So good!).

#coffee #coffeelovers #authorlife #coffeetime #coffeeshop #waynescafecappuccinocrawl

But how else do I assert my dominance? 😂🧮🖩

Please consider giving me a follow for more quality content 😉 and so you don’t miss any of my picture book updates! 📚
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@parkrunau @parkrunuk @parkrun.nz @parkrunsa @parkrunpolska @parkrunusa @parkrunca @bushyparkrun @mountbarkerparkrun #petesfirstparkrun #parkrun #loveparkrun #parkrunau #parkrunuk #parkrunfamily #loveparkrun #dfyb #parkrunsa #parkrunireland #parkrunnz #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runner #runners #instarunners #fitness #5krun #runningmotivation #runningcommunity #newbook #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #kidlit #funnybooks #juniorparkrun

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