Mother’s Day Moment: Devon’s Natural Mr Universe Helps His Mum, 80, Become a Double Amazon Bestseller
With Mother’s Day approaching, former Devon primary school teacher turned author KJ Akay, 80, has an extra reason to celebrate after achieving two Amazon bestseller rankings in 2026 — a milestone made even more special thanks to the support of her son, Devon’s Natural Mr Universe champion, Ed Akay.
Akay, known in her teaching career as Jennifer Akay, taught at Branscombe C of E Primary School from 1996 to 2008 and also worked as a supply teacher across Devon. Passionate about English, she was known for inspiring children to develop a love of reading and writing — something that would later shape her own journey into authorship.
Her Cold War thriller The Accidental Spy, which explores espionage and hidden identities during one of the most tense geopolitical eras of the 20th century, climbed to #20 in Historical Middle Eastern Fiction and #31 in Middle Eastern History, introducing readers to Akay’s gripping storytelling.
Meanwhile, her memoir Fruits of Victory: An Autobiography of a Childhood in Barnsley 1945–62 paints a vivid picture of growing up in a two-bedroom terraced house in northern England in the years after the Second World War. Rich with humour, hardship and community spirit, the book has ranked #27 in Regional UK Biographies, #39 in Sociology, and #45 in Historical United Kingdom Biographies.
Both books have been promoted by her son Ed Akay through his PR and publishing brand Midas Touch, adding a strong family dimension to the success story. Known locally as Devon’s Natural Mr Universe champion, Ed built his reputation in the world of natural bodybuilding and as a successful cover model before moving into publishing and media promotion. He previously achieved Amazon bestseller success with his biography "From Darkness", written by Jason Reading, which reached #1 in several Amazon categories. Drawing on that experience in promotion and publishing, he set out to help his mother fulfil a lifelong dream of becoming a published author.
Both titles are currently available on Amazon in print and Kindle editions.
For more information about KJ Akay visit: www.kjakay.com
KJ Akay says: “As a teacher I loved helping young people discover reading and writing. Creative writing has always been my passion, and it has been a lifelong ambition to see my own work published. To see both Fruits of Victory and The Accidental Spy embraced by readers and reach the Amazon bestseller lists has been the most wonderful surprise of my eight decades. With Mother’s Day approaching, it feels like an especially meaningful moment. As a mother whose son helped bring these books to the world, it truly feels like the most wonderful gift.”
Ed Akay says:
“Seeing my mum become an Amazon bestseller at 80 is an incredibly proud moment. Writing has always been her dream, and it’s amazing to see readers finally discovering her stories. Being This Mother’s Day, I’m celebrating not just a wonderful mum — but a truly inspiring author.”
