Ric Hart, who lost his wife Jade shortly after she gave birth to their son, Hugo, in July 2018 at Bassetlaw Hospital, has become a well-known book author over the last two years. Within a year of losing Jade, Ric ran a marathon in her memory. Then he turned to writing and poetry at the start of the pandemic in 2020 to help him through his grief. In the last two years, Ric has published four children’s bereavement books, which form the ‘Hugo and Daddy’s’ series. Now his fifth and final children’s book is available to pre-order before the publication date of 1 September. The book is entitled Hugo and Daddy’s School Adventures. Ric and Hugo are pictured with the new book.

Now four, Hugo is starting primary school in September. Ric is excited, launching his final children’s book as it marks a milestone for him, and for Hugo. The net proceeds of the book will be given to Misterton Primary School.

Ric comments: “I had one goal and that was to shout to the world about Jade and share the very special person she was. We all have goals in life: before July 2018, I had business goals; after July 2018, I knew I would have grief goals and wanted to do something that would light me up inside but also stay here forever. Writing was my answer.

“Being now at this point after the inquest into Jade’s death and releasing Hugo’s final children’s book, I think this grief goal has been achieved and I’m so proud. What this does inside me is amazing.”

With this lasting legacy, Ric hopes that, one day, Hugo will read these books to his own grandchildren: “I’ve left a legacy for Jade, myself, and also for Hugo to carry forward throughout his life and I’m so proud of that. I know my journey through writing will spark strength, confidence, and hope throughout Hugo’s life. One day whenever he’s lost, worried, unsure, I hope what I did will inspire him to become an amazing person as he grows older.”

Ric has been a full-time father to Hugo during the last four years: “This has been one of the biggest challenges any man has to face, but I’m doing my best to keep finding ways to grow and inspire Hugo but also keep an eye on my own mental and physical health.”

Ric decided also all his books would help special charities: Way – widowed and young benefited from his autobiography Pupy Love, written in lockdown in 2020, and the bereavement charity, Cruse, from his first children’s book Hugo and Daddy’s Night-time adventures, which become a top seller on Amazon within its first six months of launch, then remained in the top 50 bestsellers for months. The Children’s Bereavement Centre in Newark benefited from Ric’s next two books, Hugo and Daddy’s Superhero Adventures and Hugo and Daddy’s Thailand Adventures.

Illustrated by Jacqueline Tee, who has worked with Ric on his other titles, Hugo and Daddy’s School Adventures is published by Grosvenor House (grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk, tel: 02083396060) and available from Amazon.

Hugo’s website for his ‘Superhero’ book, which was released on 15 August 2021 – a special day as it was Jade’s birthday: https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/Kcp7CQ08BFkMwmDCxQcfS?domain=hartshero.co.uk. The merchandise page done to inspire kids to find confidence through adversity. Jade’s website is https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/h73uCRoVDsvj38KtNOtIW?domain=jadehartpupylove.co.uk, which was created to leave a last memory for all to share special images of her.