In 1996, travelling with a friend from Western Australia back to my home state of Victoria, Australia, we joked about an imaginary puppy we called Col who we thought would love travelling in the car with us and seeing the country. In 1997, we purchased a Blue Heeler pup we called... yes, you are correct... we called him Col. Col's Big Australian Adventure was written in 1998 with my lovely puppy on my lap. In 2013, my beautiful big dog Col passed away aged 15. This story is a tribute to him and the love he bought to my life.

Brian P. Howley has been writing for many years and loves the power of words and how they inform, enlighten, heal, educate, entertain and inspire. Over the years he has had poems and short stories published and has won a number of writing competitions. He currently writes his poetry on TWITTER as @howleybrianp1

For the past six years he has worked as a Careers Advisor in a Secondary College on the Northern fringe of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Training as a primary teacher in the 1980s, he first learned how important books and reading are for children and has maintained his passion for children's literature ever since. He believes that a good children's book should be enjoyed as much by adults as by younger readers.

Col's Big Australian Adventure is also a tribute to this big beautiful country. My hope is that readers will want to learn more about Australia and maybe even want to visit one day and see some of the sights. Please enjoy this book and heartfelt thanks for taking the time to read it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.