UF Freshman Hits The Jackpot As First-Time Author

February 25, 1997

GAINESVILLE — Jim Dodson is an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Florida and already his resume includes a live appearance on national television, an interview with CNN and an upcoming appearance on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.”

Jim and his brother Steve, a sophomore at Palm Beach Gardens High School, are in the middle of a whirlwind publicity tour to promote their book “Kids’ Little Instruction Book.” It arrived in bookstores in January and gives young readers advice from some of the country’s most famous and respected celebrities, including Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, astronauts and professional athletes.

Basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal advises children to listen to their parents. Actor and comedian Robin Williams tells them to “make fun, not war” and U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno wants young people to believe in themselves.

“It has been pretty overwhelming,” Jim said. “The publicity and interest in the book has built gradually and now it seems everyone wants to talk about it.”

The brothers began their writing career just over three years ago as high school students working for Kidzette, which was distributed to 30,000 students in Palm Beach County and distinguished as the first newspaper in the United States written by and for kids. After interviewing hundreds of celebrities on a variety of topics, the young reporters soon discovered that those they spoke to were most responsive to the question: “What advice would you give to children growing up in today’s world?”

“Celebrities like this question,” Jim said. “It’s not controversial and it’s a change for them. Everyone wanted to share their advice with kids. So we decided to only ask this one question.”

What started as a monthly column based on this question turned into a collection of more than 1,000 quotes. Hoping to reach an audience wider than Palm Beach County, they hired an agent. After receiving interest from several publishers, the Dodsons chose Troll

Communications not only to publish their book but also to include it in a monthly book club for kids that markets books directly to young students through schools across the country.

Since the book hit store shelves Jan. 1, the Dodsons’ editor estimates about 75,000 copies of “Kids’ Little Instruction Book” have been sold in bookstores and through the book club.

“It has been amazing,” Jim said. “And who knows what will happen now that we’ve reached millions of people just over the weekend with TV, radio and newspaper interviews?”

When he returned to Gainesville last week from New York City after taping an interview for CNN’s “Showbiz Today,” Jim said he was just another regular student on campus again. But this regular student is waiting to hear back from “Entertainment Tonight,” David Letterman and the “Today Show.”

Jim would not say how much money he and his brother are making from the sales of their first book. He was able, however, to make a down payment on his first new car: a Ford Thunderbird.

The younger Dodson plans to join his brother at UF once he completes high school, and he said he may pursue a career in sports broadcasting.

As for Jim, he originally planned on attending law school. But with the success Kidzette brought him, he said he may just stick with journalism.