Former d.d. Pecker’s owner Derek Harris tries his hand at writing children’s books
by Lorne Chambers | Editor
West Ashley resident Derek Harris is a man of many talents. Once a math teacher at Porter-Gaud, he went on to become an assistant principal at the school only to leave and embark on a career in the restaurant and bar business. Harris and his brother-in-law Brian Lawson owned d.d. Pecker’s Wing Shack on Savannah Highway for a decade-and-a-half until last year when they closed its doors, much to the dismay of their loyal patrons who found the bar to be a kind of home away from home.
A large part of that was thanks to Harris himself, who has an uncanny ability to connect with people and make them laugh and feel at ease. It made him an effective teacher for more than a decade and then a successful bar owner, and now he’s hoping it will help him become a cherished children’s author. That’s right; Harris has reinvented himself yet again, this time by releasing a series of four books geared for children. Let’s Play the Rhyming Game features four different characters, all named Mack who must use their imagination to find words that rhyme.
Of course, Harris is a renowned jokester and so the words all have a funny rhyme that kids would find amusing. For example, the four words featured in each book are “Group,” “Free,” “Shut,” and “Smart.” A child—or an adult with a childish sense of humor—might say “Poop,” “Pee,” “Butt, and “Fart” fit the bill. Part of the fun of Let’s Play the Rhyming Game is flipping the pages and seeing if Mack arrives at that same destination. Harris says that the classic 1971 children’s book The Monster at the End of this Book featuring Grover from Sesame Street was a big inspiration.
“I was lying there in bed, in complete darkness and silence. I sat up, grabbed my phone, and I typed into my notes ‘what rhyme with …” says Harris. “Smart was my first one.”
So far, Harris says the books have been a huge hit with friends who have kids. He has had a good time working with the illustrator on each edition. All four books are $11 each and are available here on Amazon.
