In this episode of The David Watson Podcast, I sit down with Dr Peter B. Cotton – world-renowned gastroenterologist and creator of the award-winning “Fred the Snake” children’s book series – to talk about life after medicine, story-telling, and why his endoscope turned into a lovable snake called Fred. Peter has written 10 rhyming picture books for children about Fred the Snake and his friends, including the brand-new “When Fred the Snake and Friends Learn the Chinese Zodiac – and the Great Race”. We talk about how a career pioneering flexible endoscopy and ERCP became the unexpected inspiration for a gentle snake who teaches road safety, friendship, travel, and courage to kids and grandkids around the world. In this conversation we cover: • How a flexible endoscope became “Fred the Snake” and the start of a bedtime story • Turning that original road-safety rhyme into the first book, “When Fred the Snake Got Squished and Mended” • Why all the Fred books are written in rhyme and built around simple morals for children • The new Chinese Zodiac book and the story of the Great Race – explaining years, animals and culture to kids • Fred going to school, camping, the beach and traveling across the USA (East, Central and West) • The difference between writing scientific papers and imaginative children’s books • What Peter has learned about confidence, voice and “writing what you’re actually good at” • Grandparents, puppets and why reading to children still matters in a digital world • Growing up in Herefordshire, training at Cambridge and in London, and why he moved to the USA • Life on a small island in South Carolina, golf stories from around the world, and finally “hanging up” the clubs • Reflections on retirement, legacy, family and finding a second creative career later in life If you’re a parent, grandparent, educator or aspiring children’s author, this episode is full of ideas about how to combine fun, rhyme and gentle life lessons in stories for young readers. Find Peter Cotton and Fred the Snake: Website (signed copies, blog and resources): https://petercottontales.com Fred the Snake books on Amazon (search): “Peter B. Cotton Fred the Snake”