Children’s production and rights management company Hoho Entertainment (Cloudbabies, Shane the Chef) is making its first foray into the world of kids’ publishing with the publication of a new book about a boy with a spectacular flying wheelchair – Cameron Tiberius McPherson and his Magic Chair.
Set to be published by Cardiff’s Candy Jar Books on 30th September, Cameron Tiberius McPherson and his Magic Chair was written by new children’s book author Tug J.Wilson and developed and script edited by Hoho Entertainment. The book has been illustrated by emerging young artist Chiara Manship, following a year-long collaboration with the University of South Wales which saw the book added to the curriculum for their illustration course.
Cameron Tiberius McPherson and his Magic Chair follows the adventures of a young wheelchair-bound boy and is based on the real life of a boy called Cameron, who with his mum, Lucia, used to stay with Wilson regularly throughout his childhood.
“We are really excited about this project which puts a young, dynamic character with a disability right at the centre of the action,” says Hoho Entertainment’s joint managing director Helen Howells. “Tug J.Wilson is an established writer for film and TV but this is his first children’s book and he has a really fresh voice. At Hoho we’re passionate about nurturing new talent across all our projects so we’re delighted to have teamed up with John and Chiara to make Cameron’s adventures really fly!”
Matt Morgan, Illustration Course Leader, Faculty of Creative Industries, Atrium, University of South Wales adds: “I am so pleased for Chiara; her illustrations are bold, fun and full of character … a perfect fit for the book! We are always proud when our students’ commitment and dedication is recognised. On the Illustration course, we aim to train ‘real illustrators for the real world’ and one way we do this is by engaging our students with live briefs. It has been such a pleasure working on this project and it’s always appreciated when organisations come to us to help nurture new illustration talent”.
Cameron Tiberius McPherson lives with his eccentric mother, Lulu, in a tall apartment block in the town of Pimple. When a huge tornado hits, the town is turned upside down. With the apartment lift broken, Cameron finds things particularly difficult until a mysterious mechanic remodels his chair into a golden wheelchair.
Suddenly Cameron finds he can achieve things he never thought possible. His chair can transform to climb to the top of tall buildings, soar through the air, or scour the bottom of a lake to rescue stolen jewels.
Cameron Tiberius McPherson shows what’s possible when, for the very first time, you can be the hero you’ve always wanted to be.