Eamon and Teelin at Belfast Zoo

A new children’s book from Belfast is not only raising money for good causes but also gaining positive reviews for its potential in helping combat bullying.

Eamon Nancarrow, who wrote the stories in ‘Liono, the little lion who loves flowers’, explains why:

“The nine stories gently reveal that there is room in the world for everyone. As Liono meets each character he understands their differences and begins accepting them for who they are. There might even be some whose company he doesn’t enjoy, but eventually he sees their side of the argument.”

This was echoed in a recent interview on U105, where Eamon was warmly applauded by Ivan Martin for the content of the book and the subjects it covers. After the show Ivan wrote:

“The messages the book sends out to families is that there are things that apply equally to adults and children, such as respect for people who dare to be different and basic decency.”

For Serena Burns, who grew up in the Highlands of Scotland, this children’s book could be a valuable tool in the campaign to stop bullying.

“I was very seriously bullied through school, because of my weight and because I had an English accent. I understand all too well how dangerous prejudice and lack of understanding of people’s differences can be.”

“A good route towards this is to teach children from the very youngest age to understand and accept how people can be different, and to embrace and admire those differences. As simple as a book like this is, I personally think it goes a long way towards educating acceptance in to children’s hearts.”

When it comes to raising money for others, the author and publishers have decided that a different cause should be helped at each book signing.

So far they have raised money for the East Africa Crisis, the Stroke Association, a school gardening project, Cash for Kids and Belfast Zoo’s conservation programme: EAZA ‘South east Asia’ campaign.

“All of the people we are trying to help have a connection to Liono or our families,” Eamon explained. “As it is a children’s book, and illustrated by my son Teelin, it seems natural to raise money for Cash for Kids as they do such a great job in the Northern Ireland community.”

“Teelin’s always loved animals so Belfast Zoo has been a regular family day out. When we were writing ‘Liono,’ a character developed called Roisin Dubh, a black panther whose beauty is breath taking. Originally I wanted her to be a tribute to the late great Gary Moore but it was hard to get the Irish angle into a South African based story until Teelin solved the problem by saying Roisin could have moved from Belfast Zoo.”

Eamon and Teelin’s next media appearance will next be on Northern Ireland TV in December 2011.

Liono (£4.99) can be purchased from Showcase UK’s online store

Utilising space in their Belfast salon they’ve begun exhibiting and selling work by authors and painters.

For the owner Peter Maud it was a very simple decision: “New artists need support and we have the space in our salon to give them exposure. We’re a successful artistic business so it makes sense to lend a helping hand.”

In this day and age the cynical would be quite right to think that the salon is taking their cut from the sale but that isn’t the case, as Peter points out:

“We make no financial gain out of this. It is 100% back to the artist. The only thing we do make is our customers more aware of the local art scene and the chance for them to take home something new and exciting.

Their first endorsement is a new children’s book titled ‘Liono, the little lion who loves flowers” and published by Showcase UK (Southampton).

Set in Africa, Liono meets a variety of characters, all of whom have their own way of doing things, and these encounters slowly teach the little lion that there is room in the world for everyone.

Liono the little lion who loves flowers

It is the second book from Eamon Nancarrow but the first which his son Teelin has illustrated. He was five at the time and his work has always been impressive.

“Since the age of three he hasn’t stopped drawing,” explained a proud father. “So when the idea for Liono formed we just continued the natural path he was on. We were delighted just to have the book published. To be taken under Peter’s wing is a great testament to Teelin’s drawings. If I still had some hair I’d be in the salon in a flash.”

In a world obsessed with celebrity it is very hard for a new name to get noticed and this initiative will no doubt get many other artists excited but why did the salon pick this children’s book?

“We set very high standards in the salon so that has to be reflected in everything we do,” Peter explained. “Eamon and Teelin’s book is a great example of a father and son project that is not only a good read but also contains art work that will inspire other children to be creative.”

The display will run until mid November and will be replaced by more work from Northern Ireland’s artists. It could well set a new trend of businesses bringing art to the people.

About Peter Maud Hair Peace

Peter Maud was established on the Holywood Road in April 1983. It is both L’Oreal and Kerastase Educational school of excellence in Northern Ireland. They are also exclusive members of the L’Oreal Portfolio of Artistic Hairdressers for Northern Ireland.

http://www.petermaudhairpeace.co.uk/

About Eamon Nancarrow

Age 45. Lives in Belfast with partner Donna and children Teelin, Tara and Shane. Currently a health protection nurse for the Public Health Agency. Also the singer with the rock band Strictly No Ballroom. First publication through Showcase UK was ‘Holywood Star: the life and times of a rock and roll misadventurer.’

About the book (review copies on request)

Liono, the little lion who loves flowers

Liono be ordered from Waterstones, W.H. Smith, Easons and online from shop.showcaseuk.tv, Amazon and other top bookstores from 1st November 2011

Price £4.99

Paperback: 48 pages

Publisher: Showcase UK (1 Nov 2011)

ISBN-10: 0956390013

ISBN-13: 978-0956390011

Ivan Martin interview U105 by Showcase UK
Liono can be bought from shop.showcaseuk.tv

This has to be one of the most naturally created books around. As the images inspired the story the route to it’s conclusion was a happy coincidence. Very few images were ‘commissioned’ and by that we mean there were only a couple of times the mean old publisher requested more illustrations.

This is because we think it is unfair to ask someone so young to re-draw a character just to get a different expression or have a certain continuity. And quite rightly the illutrator felt the same. But some holes had to be filled and Teelin was brilliant, and patient, when we requested a little bit more. Which is why, on a couple of occasions during the story, some pictures are used twice.

The final addition to the book was in Chapter 2 where we needed to see a creature before you turned the page to gaze of the magnificence of Teelin’s depiction of Liono trying to talk to the three vervets.

Once that little fellow was in place, the book was complete, and he became known as ‘the last monkey’. Although it has left us wondering what story could be created with that title?

You can pre-order Liono the little lion at shop.showcaseuk.tv

Soon we’ll be setting up the pre-ordering page at shop.showcaseuk.tv

Tom Ashford

A chance encounter in Lockswood Centre has led to local composer Tom Ashcroft releasing his début album ‘Point to Point’.

His mother Susan was talking with drama producer Jennifer Rainbird in one of the shops and naturally mentioned how well her son Tom had taken to composing soundtracks.

What Susan didn’t realise is that Jennifer’s partner, Xan Phillips, promoted new talent in the area.

With a music show on Spotify for Playdio.com and a column in the Daily Echo, the former presenter with Original 106 had recently published a compilation of 16 south coast acts and was keen to promote more.

“From the first listen it was obvious that Tom had talent but needed someone to put him on the next rung.” Xan explained. “This release wont bring Tom fame and fortune but it will let others in the industry know that someone has faith in his abilities.”

Point to Point

‘Point to Point’ is a soundtrack to a short film yet to be made but the theme is action adventure and the plot involves a chase through a jungle, into a hidden city under a volcano and a dramatic finale on the snowy slopes.

Although Tom started his career singing in rock bands, scoring for films is where he feels most comfortable: “My first compositions were environment tracks for video games but, like the evolution of computer games, I too have moved into full-blown soundtracks.”

The music is available digitally on iTunes and Amazon and a limited edition CD can be bought from shop.showcase.tv