For transparency: Esports News UK editor Dom Sacco was hired on a freelance PR basis to help promote the books
One of the UK’s most well-known Fortnite players – benjyfishy – is launching a biography detailing his life as a pro gamer.
Let’s Go! benjyfishy’s Fortnite Journey has been written by Benjy’s mother, Anne Fish (aka mamabenjyfishy), who recently joined Galaxy Racer to become the first pro gamer mum to join an esports team organisation. This book arrives on November 25th.
Anne has also teamed up with the father of Norwegian Fortnite pro player MrSavage, Johnny Troset Andersen, to write another book: Build It Like benjyfishy & MrSavage: The Unofficial Fortnite Esports Guide for Players and Parents (out December 2nd).
MrSavage plays for esports organisation 100 Thieves while benjyfishy represents NRG – the two professional Fortnite players and World Cup finalists have a combined following of around 20 million on social media and overall earnings of almost $1 million to date. But it wasn’t always that way.
“When Benjy was first offered an esports contract, I felt as if we were stepping into the unknown. I really needed a book like this to give me some reassuring guidance, and to help open my eyes to the huge scope of possibilities the esports industry offers young people.”
Anne Fish
Anne and Johnny were plunged into the world of esports when their sons became professional players and duo partners in the battle royale game, Fortnite.
They soon found themselves signing contracts with esports organisations and providing all the administrative and technical support it takes to manage a player and their business. They learnt there was not the same kind of readily available guidance for esports players as there is for traditional sports and athletes, so they leaned on one another for support.
In Build It Like benjyfishy & MrSavage, Anne and Johnny share the highs and lows of their individual journeys as parents in supporting the esports careers of their sons, as well as key advice and considerations for those interested in the professional world of competitive Fortnite and navigating the fast-moving esports industry. It’s ideal information for future professional players, esports-novice parents and anyone interested in supporting young players.
In Let’s Go! benjyfishy’s Fortnite Journey, benjyfishy’s mother Anne Fish charts the professional gamer’s rise to fame, who was just 13 years old when Fortnite Season 1 was released in 2017.
The book follows Benjy’s journey from the early days of his sporting ambitions to qualifying for the 2019 Fortnite World Cup and Anne Fish’s work as his manager – and mum. Anne recounts his duo partnership with MrSavage, his decision to sign with the esports organisation NRG and flying around the world to take part in various tournaments, as well as the challenges and dilemmas Anne faced as a single mother when Benjy left full-time education for a life-changing esports contract with NRG.
Anne Fish said: “When Benjy was first offered an esports contract, I felt as if we were stepping into the unknown. I really needed a book like Build It Like benjyfishy & MrSavage to give me some reassuring guidance, and to help open my eyes to the huge scope of possibilities the esports industry offers young people.”
“And in Let’s Go! benjyfishy’s Fortnite Journey, I’m excited to share with fans the exclusive stories in Benjy’s journey to becoming a professional gamer. Many people – and parents – might not truly appreciate how much hard work and dedication it takes for players and the people around them to manage a career in esports.”
Johnny Troset Andersen added: “In the months following Martin’s breakthrough in 2018 I sought information all over the place without encountering anything that was structured to my needs. By sharing my experience in this book, I hope to ease the burden for future professional players and their allies, be it parents or anyone else.”
Build It Like benjyfishy & MrSavage: The Unofficial Fortnite Esports Guide for Players and Parents launches on December 2nd priced at £21.99 (print) and £12 (ebook) courtesy of DeeperDown Publishing. It’s available at Amazon UK, Amazon US and Book Depository. Visit deeperdown.com/buildit for more info.
Let’s Go! benjyfishy’s Fortnite Journey launches on November 25th priced at £19.99 (print) and £10.99 (ebook), published by Fish Emedia. It’s available at Amazon UK, Amazon US and Book Depository and there’s more info at mamabenjyfishy.gg
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
