Nen and the Lonely Fisherman

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Every so often a book comes along that makes you go – wow. Nen and the Lonely Fisherman is one of these books. If you haven’t already discovered the independent publisher Owlet Press they are certainly one to watch, some truly incredible books already published and more to come. The theme of homosexuality is present, yet in no way forced - quite appropriately normalising same sex relationships. The collaboration between Ian Eagleton and James Mayhew in Nen and the Lonely Fisherman is the perfect blend of magic. On the surface this is a delightful, hope filled twist on the classic story ‘The Little Mermaid’ yet it’s so much more that that. To truly begin to understand the gravity, strength and bravery of this book I’d very much recommend reading this blog post from illustrator James Mayhew and this post from author Ian Eagleton. Synopsis Both imagery and text intertwine effortlessly to tell the tale of Nen and Ernest. The illustrator’s brush strokes in the paint bringing to life the author’s words – Nen fought through the churning, lashing tempest.

While Nen loves exploring ‘ the ancient, wild depths‘ and beyond his ocean home, somehow he feels ’empty’. Thereafter he sings a sad song, that the ‘twinkling stars’ whisper across the oceans, though it seems smothered by the clouds. His explorations take him closer to the shore, where he watches Ernest, a fisherman. I very simply and delicately explores loneliness, friendship, affection and love in a positive way.

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Far out to sea and deep below the whispering waves lives a merman called Nen. Nen spends his days exploring his underwater kingdom, but something is missing: his heart is empty. So, Nen ventures to the forbidden world above and it is here that he meets Ernest, a lonely fisherman. But can two people from different worlds be together and what will happen when a terrifying storm gathers? A lyrical, beautiful celebration of love, acceptance and faith, with a gentle message about how we treat our oceans, and each other. A Book of Bravery and Hope

Oh, so many! It’s probably best to ask what’s my favourite book right now, as it changes all the time. I love reading crime thrillers – a passion I think I’ve got from my mum. In terms of children’s picture books I love Dapo Adeola, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, David Litchfield and the Fan Brothers. I’m a huge fan of Jessica Love and ‘Julian is a Mermaid’, which made me gasp! I also love Abi Elphinstone, Ross Montgomery, Louis Stowell, Sophie Anderson, so I try and read a children’s book every week!

I am a mother to a 15 year old bi-sexual boy and while he has never struggled with his identity, I am sure that many children do, even those who are quite young. Many picture books still only portray 'traditional' relationships, so any story that can help these children see or understand themselves better is OK by me, especially when it is as lovely as this one. My next project is a Shakespeare-themed picture book called Violet’s Tempest. It’s a story about a girl who has lost her giggle and sense of happiness. She is given the part of Ariel in a school play and wonders how she will ever play such a mischievous character when she feels so low and nervous. A modern adaptation of a classic ‘little mermaid’ tale, Nen and the Lonely Fisherman tells the story of a merman’s search for true love, sending a song of hope across the sea while a lonely, caring young fisherman named Ernest hopes to find warmth in his heart. As the two meet, they feel a special connection, much to the dismay of Nen’s father Pelagios who creates a wild sea storm to protect his son and the ocean. Can Nen save Ernest? Portraying a relationship between two men (well, a merman and another man!) felt defiant and brave, but my hope is that one day it will just be viewed for what it is – perfectly normal. I wrote so many stories about mermaids as a child. And often got in trouble for not writing about anything else!