KURT BROWNING/ROBIN COUSINS

On January 30, 2006, World Champion Kurt Browning will throw his hat into the Children's Literature ring with the publication of "A Is for Axel: An Ice Skating Alphabet," a picture book for the 4-8 year old set. (My favorite Kurt Browning memory is from the 1992 Worlds in Oakland, where Kurt stayed in the official hotel lobby, taking pictures and signing autographs long after every other skater had called it quits).

A year ago, it was Olympic Champion Robin Cousins making his illustrated picture book debut with "Adventures in Frostavia."

“I had written a synopsis for an animated special which sat languishing in the hard drive for a few years after the project failed to materialize,” recalled Cousins. “(Then), I showed a friend the synopsis and she immediately decided it would be a great children’s book. A few days later, she phoned and asked how long it would take to change the format? She told me I had a meeting with a publisher in ten days, and they were expecting a manuscript! The meeting was with the owner of The Book Guild and nine months later we were on bookshelves! It was a great process and I am very pleased with the results. I did a reading, and found the children enthralled, which was great to see.”

Illustrations for “Adventures in Frostavia” were by provided by two of Cousins’s colleagues from “Holiday on Ice,” Linda and Pavel Albrecht.

“She is Australian and he is from the Czech Republic,” Cousins related. “They met during the tour, married and left the show to set up an illustration workshop in Australia. My book is the result of phone calls and e-mails while they awaited the arrival of their first child!”

“Adventures in Frostavia” features a forward by Olympic Dance Champion Jayne Torvill, and Cousins reported that, “There are hopes for more books in a series, but I am not holding my breath. I am happy the book is out there. We shall see what transpires. Plus there is now interest again in an animated version for next winter!”