Good things are happening for two local dads and their series of children’s books focusing on the adventures of Connor the Courageous Cutter and his friends in Serendipity Sound.

Scott McBride and Rodger Thompson created the book series two years ago and already have published two books. They recently finished the writing process for their third book.

“We didn’t expect something to happen this fast,” McBride said.

But that’s not the only development. They also recently placed in an international book contest and have been picked up to do a pilot for an animated cartoon series.

“It was surreal,” Thompson said of finding out about the pilot. “It didn’t even soak in until the next day. It’s a life dream for any children’s author.”

The two authors said they’re not able to give many details yet about the cartoon series. But some big names are involved, they said.

“There are some very heavy hitters that are involved with the network,” McBride said. “We thought, ‘If these guys are involved, this is super exciting.’”

The book award came from the eighth annual International Book Awards. “The Adventures of Connor the Courageous Cutter: Saving Sarah” was named a winner in the “Children’s Religious” category. By placing, the book beat 80 percent of its fellow entrants, according to Thompson.

The two men, both military dads, met at church in North Suffolk. McBride had thought about the idea of writing a children’s book for years, and he approached Thompson at church with the idea.

Connor is a cutter who lives in Serendipity Sound with friends such as Faith the Fire Boat and Sarah the Schooner. In “Saving Sarah,” Sarah gets trapped in a storm, and Connor lights the way for Sarah’s return to safety.

While all of the new developments are exciting, the two said the most rewarding thing about writing the Connor the Courageous Cutter series has been how they have been able to touch others’ lives.

“I feel like we started a movement,” McBride said. “It’s a neat story about two dads that wrote a children’s book, and it’s touching people’s lives.”

The two recalled speaking at the awards banquet for a Suffolk Young Authors event.

“You’re looking at kids that are the same age I was when I first started wanting to write,” Thompson said.

“That was a little nerve-wracking, I admit,” McBride said. “But we have an awesome responsibility to share with the next generation, which is really exciting.”