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Around the same time Eoin had begun to draw on his experiences abroad and started work on his first children's novel about a young Irish boy, his Tunisian best friend and their madcap adventures in north Africa. "Benny and Omar" was published by The O'Brien Press in October 1998 and was an immediate bestseller. It has since been translated into Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
A hilarious sequel, Benny and Babe was published in June 1999 and was nominated for the Bisto Book of the Year award. His three titles in the O'Brien Flyers Series, Going Potty, Ed's Funny Feet and Ed's Bed, are firm favourites with children, parents and teachers alike. They are amongst the most borrowed books from the Junior Section of the Irish Library Service.
The Wish List, a bizarre tale of life, death and an unexpected hereafter, was published in 2000 and won a Bisto Merit Award in 2001.
Not content to rest on his laurels, Eoin wanted to write an Irish story to appeal to a wider audience, a fantasy with a difference. Every child Eoin Colfer has ever taught will testify to his love of traditional magical Irish legends. They will also attest to his innate ability to make these legends come alive for them on a daily basis. It was in this genre he found his inspiration, but then took a unique slant on this well known underworld civilisation.
Eoin decided to send his book to a London based literary agent, Sophie Hicks, and he hasn't looked back since. His monster best seller "Artemis Fowl" was published in hardback in 2001 and was released in paperback on "Fowl Friday" 8th March 2002.
Miramax Films \ Tribeca Productions have optioned the rights for the film version of "Artemis Fowl" and are currently working on the project, Eoin hopes will be filmed in Ireland.
Following the success of Artemis Fowl, Eoin decided to follow his wife's lead and give up teaching. (Jackie is co-owner of Wexford's exclusive boutique Jacqui Designer Fashions .)
Concentrating full time on writing, Eoin completed the sequel "Artemis Fowl - The Arctic Incident" which proved to be another massive best seller.
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