Welcome to a very special edition of Family Comic Friday. Normally with this column, I review a comic book or graphic novel that is family friendly and fun for readers of all ages. Today, I’m sitting down with Lester Jones and Steven Dodd, the creative team behind the new children’s book: SuperOwl: Being Different Makes You Super!
Just who is SuperOwl? Why he’s the hot new superhero with autism who has taken Amazon by storm! By day, SuperOwl is the young owlet, Little Bro’ and he has Asperger Syndrome. But he’s also pretty amazing as he uses his special skills as well as his disability to save the day from a dastardly falcon!
The Godfather of Britain
Steven Dodd is the inspiration for SuperOwl. Born with Asperger Syndrome, Steven has worked to bring awareness for his special needs. He has a reputation as an ambassador for autism awareness. But to many, Steven is also known as the British Godfather.
Steven's nickname has evolved from a term of endearment that one of his doctors gifted him years ago. 'One of my doctor's gave me the nickname ‘Padrino’ which is Italian for godfather.’ Over time, people started to add his heritage to his nickname and began calling him the British Godfather.
He marvels at being a top search under the moniker. “You Google ‘British Godfather’ and there's my picture in front of all these Mafia guys. It's great.”
Another area of pride that Steven let's everyone know about is his love of the Special Olympics. Having competed at that level for several years, Steven is looking forward to a chance to represent Team England in the Paralympics in Abu Dhabi in 2020. His chosen sport is deadlifting. “I can do 200 (440.95 pounds) kilos from the ground,’ says Dodd.
While Steven practices for a chance at Abu Dhabi, he's also spreading the word about SuperOwl to his friends and competitors in Special Olympics. “I'm telling everyone that I know about the book. My friends really like it.” Some of those friends also happen to be characters in the book along with members of Steven's family.
It was through the Special Olympics that Steven meet a new friend: Lester Jones.
About Lester Jones:
Lester is the writer and artist behind SuperOwl. He is an award-winning artist, designer, musician originally from Wrexham, North Wales but now based in Plymouth, Devon. His inspiration is drawn from his volunteer work supporting cancer patients and encouraging people of all ages to `give it a go.' He met Steven Dodd through his charity work and as a result of many conversations with him, SuperOwl and his friends have now come to life in the pages of this book. Being different makes you SUPER! is Lester's slogan to help and encourage children with Aspergers Syndrome, Autism or any form of disability to enjoy their lives and to show that with support from their friends and family, they can achieve great things.
Interview with Lester:
Q: Lester. Thank you for being able to talk with me a little about SuperOwl. How did the idea for this book comic about?
Lester: The idea for the book - I am a qualified graphic designer/artist and for the last six years I have been a volunteer at a hospital in Plymouth, England. Part of my work has been in supporting cancer patients and through this I organised fund-raising events in my area. I met Steven Dodd when we organised a Kayakathon with him and discovered he was a double Special Olympics silver medalist in kayaking. Steven has Aspergers Syndrome. We became good friends and one day he asked if I would write his life story for a book.
I told him I would prefer to write and illustrate a children’s book and asked him to choose a character he could be in it. Steven likes owls and loves Super Heroes.. so SuperOwl was born!!
I created a cast of character animals and creatures through chatting with Steven and decided to set the story in a magical garden .
I then spent the next 9 months writing the story and illustrating all the characters and a few scenes from the story. Some of the characters are based on real people in Steven’s life and some from mine.
I have tried to write the story from the mind of someone who has Autism, that is why the story has a “quirky “ feel to it, I also created the slogan..”Being different makes you SUPER! I also created 4 characters in the book who have a disability to try to help children who read it that they can aspire to great things in their lives with help and support from their friends
Q. I hear that some great things have been happening with the book on Amazon. How has reception to SuperOwl been?
Lester: Reception to the book - It was launched on Amazon UK and USA and Waterstones Books on Monday 21st May 2018. In 48 hours it sold out !! Amazon were not prepared for the demand. It has sold across from the UK, Europe, USA and even in New Zealand. It will be available in stock again very soon.
(Interviewer’s NOTE: The book is currently available via the Kindle digital platform. Some paperback copies are available via other retailers on Amazon as well.)
Q. How long is the book and what is the age range for SuperOwl?
Lester:
The book is 100 pages plus cover. Approximately 18,000 words. Age Range- I would say 6 years to early teens. It is also a book parents would enjoy reading to their children.
Q. Are there plans for more adventures of SuperOwl?
Lester: Future plans - Yes! I am now working on the sequel which will contain new characters to add to the first. I will also be pushing boundaries by helping children deal with matters such as M.E.(Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)), Cancer, Bullying and even a new baby in their family.
Finally I am looking to produce an Audio Book and animated film. I am looking for sponsorship or funding for this from businesses interested in the potential of the project. Maybe Marvel or DC Comics might like to take SuperOwl on?
A Spider-Man/Superman/SuperOwl Team-Up? Yes, indeed Lester and Steven- that would be so very awesome indeed. Here’s to continued success with SuperOwl and the amazing message of hope and purpose he provides.
For more information about SuperOwl and to view his artwork, visit Lester’s Facebook page `Lester Jones - My Art - My Music.'
This interview was published concurrently at Outrightgeekery.com.
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