Author to support Hatton school that helps bullied children with book sales

An author who used to live in Kenilworth is donating some of the proceeds from her children's books to a school in Hatton.

Nicky Kemp, who now lives in Stratford, is the author behind Colin Camera, a series of stories for children, which is now available in the Kenilworth Books.

The book, which has been illustrated by Sarah Bates, containing three short stories aimed at early readers aged between five to seven years.

Colin Camera transports the children, through his lens, on a series of magical adventures.

Some of the proceeds from the book sales is being donated to Northleigh House School in Hatton, which helps children affected by bullying.

Nicky said: "The fundraising for Northleigh House School came about during a meeting that my daughter and I were having at the John Lewis store, in Solihull.

"Juliette and I were there to discuss the up and coming promotion of my book, Colin Camera, a collection of illustrated children’s short stories.

"Whilst we were there we were introduced to a really interesting character. This turned out to be Viv Morgan, the driving force behind Northleigh House School.

"Over the course of our first meeting I learned that she had converted her home into a school to provide a place that understood the needs of children who suffered from anxiety from being bullied at school, children that had been left with a lack of self esteem due to learning difficulties, or who had suffered from emotional upset from bereavement.

"The achievements have been many over the years and this has now developed into the new primary school opening to support children of a younger age.

"I have been Dyslexic all my life and I have always found reading and spelling difficult. I wasn’t understood at all when I was at school.

"Getting started on anything connected to reading and spelling would be very difficult for me because of the fear connected to it all so I could empathise closely with some of the children that Viv and the team has helped so much.

"I wish I had been able to feel such support during my formative years. I was so intrigued by this person and so inspired by her dedication, sacrifice and achievements I wanted to help and contribute in the best way I could.

"When you know the history behind how the Colin Camera stories came about you can see how the two are connected, so it was just a logical conclusion to bring the two together and use one to promote the other."

Nicky created the book with her two children.

Nicky said: "I enjoyed hours of fun and exciting creative play with my children, when they were growing up, helping them utilise their inventive energy by crafting stories together.

"None of us had the desire to just pick up a book for pleasure.

"Both children were dyslexic, so this interactive process captured their imagination and delighted them just as much as it stimulated their creative writing, memory skills, confidence and comprehension.

"Colin Camera was one of these stories and featured in a collection of home style books that the children turned to, time and time again."

A £1 donation from each book sold will go to Northleigh House School and money raised will be delivered to the school at the end of the year.

To buy a copy of the book go to Kenilworth Books or go to: https://colincamera.co.uk/shop/