Mr Butland published the illustrated action story about "little Vaughan Fittall" last year and is selling it as an endorsed RSA fundraiser.
The story tells the thrilling tale of the late New Zealand fighter pilot, Vaughan Fittall of Waihi Beach, who flew a Hawker Typhoon and won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in Europe in 1942 and 1943.
"Vaughan Fittall was a friend of my dad. He was an air force pilot and survived World War 2. He met his wife in Wales and brought her back to New Zealand," Mr Butland said.
Mr Butland was inspired to write children’s books after he was made redundant during Covid.
He works at Wānaka Wastebusters now, but at the time, he was living in Auckland with his wife and three sons (they all moved to Wānaka last year) and had been working in the advertising, marketing, copywriting and design industry.
He created his own publishing company, Back in the Day Ltd, and wrote his first book, What It Takes to Wear Black, a story about his great grandfather who walked over the Southern Alps in 1893 so he could play rugby for New Zealand.
Although writing was meant to be a hobby, it became "bit more than a hobby" when Fittall the Flyer emerged.
"I have got three boys of my own and I wanted for them to feel connected to our past.
"There is such a fascinating past to New Zealand," he said.
With boys aged 7, 9, and 12, he has the perfect audience to test his rhymes and gritty storylines.
"After reading books to children for 10 years, I know what resonates," he grinned.
"They really enjoy them. They pull them out occasionally at bed time and read them."
Mr Butland wanted to complete Fittall the Flyer for his father Colin, because his father had been so supportive about passing down memories to younger generations.
"Dad shared Vaughan’s camera footage with me when I was young, so I always had the story and the book in my head," Mr Butland said.
Unfortunately, Colin Butland died before seeing the final version but he knew the book was under way.
Mr Fittall’s family had also been supportive and gave Mr Butland access to Mr Fittall’s memoirs.
"That provided key information. I think it is really important for people to write these things down," Mr Butland said.
Fittall the Flyer includes a foreword from Warbirds Over Wānaka airshow founder Sir Tim Wallis.
"When I moved to the South Island, Sir Tim and his wife Prue were really supportive. He wrote really lovely words about being courageous. I really enjoyed meeting Sir Tim."
The book also includes several pages of contextual notes at the end about the World War 2, other brave Kiwis who served overseas, and the reasons for Anzac Day and the Poppy Day appeal.
"This is a fun, true tale, matched up with information from that time that is meant to be somewhat educative to stimulate conversations between young and old," Mr Butland said.
Five dollars from the $22.95 price of each book is being donated to the RSA to support New Zealand’s veterans and their families.
More details: backintheday.co.nz
