How did the book come about?
Rosie is a child with a life-changing condition- one that affects her body, energy and the way she experiences the world. It brings daily challenges that most people never have to think about: fatigue, limitations on independence, daily seizures and barriers that can make dreams feel distant or even unreachable.
Living with a condition like Rosie’s doesn’t just affect health — it affects opportunity.
Without the right support, Rosie would have faced:
- Fewer chances to explore her creativity
- Limited access to experiences that nurture confidence and self-belief
- Adults unintentionally focusing on what can’t be done, rather than what can
- A risk of her voice being softened, redirected, or lost altogether
Like many children with complex needs, Rosie could easily have been encouraged to cope rather than create.
But Rosie didn’t just want to cope. She wanted to be an author.
Nicola is a carer for Rosie and when Rosie said she wanted to become an author, Nicola didn’t see a barrier.
As an author and publisher, Nicola understood that stories aren’t just entertainment. They are identity, legacy, and proof of voice. She recognised that if Rosie didn’t have someone willing to step in, advocate, adapt, and truly listen, that dream could quietly disappear.
Instead of allowing Rosie’s condition to define the limits of what was possible, Nicola reshaped the process around Rosie:
- Making space for her imagination to lead
- Working at a pace that respected Rosie’s needs
- Ensuring Rosie’s ideas were taken seriously, not simplified or sidelined
- Turning a dream into something tangible — a real book, with real ownership
It was about believing Rosie was already an author — she just needed someone to say ‘Yes I believe in you and we can create this dream.’
Because someone listened — truly listened — Rosie didn’t just get a story.
She gained:
- Confidence in her voice
- Proof that her ideas matter
- A sense of achievement that belongs to her
- Something lasting that says: I was here. I created this.
For a child with a life-changing condition, that kind of affirmation is powerful. It shifts how the future feels. It replaces “maybe not” with “what next?”
The Nightshaders Adventures exists because Rosie was brave enough to share her dream — and because Nicola refused to let that dream fade into the background.
This book is more than a story.
It’s a reminder that when the right adult steps forward, a child’s world can widen instead of shrink.
What do the readers learn from the book?
The Nightshaders Adventures gently teaches readers that big feelings and big adventures can exist side by side.
Through the flying dogs and their nighttime journeys, readers learn that:
- Dreams are valid, no matter who you are or what challenges you live with. Wanting something — like becoming an author — is the first act of bravery.
- Everyone needs support, and needing help is not a weakness. The story shows how trust, teamwork, and listening to one another make difficult moments easier to face.
- Courage doesn’t always mean being fearless. Sometimes it means trying anyway, even when things feel uncertain or overwhelming.
- Differences are not problems to fix. The characters show that every individual brings something valuable, and that the world becomes richer when those differences are respected.
- Hope can exist even in hard moments. The book doesn’t pretend challenges disappear, but it shows that joy, imagination, and connection can still grow alongside them.
At its heart, The Nightshaders Adventures reminds readers — especially children — that their voice matters, their ideas are worth sharing, and their story deserves space in the world.
What is next for the author?
For Rosie, becoming an author isn’t the end of the journey — it’s the beginning.
Having seen her ideas take shape and become a real book, Rosie now knows that her voice matters and that her imagination has a place in the world. What comes next is about continuing to nurture that confidence: exploring new ideas, developing characters, and discovering where her creativity wants to go next.
Future projects may grow slowly and look different from traditional paths — shaped around Rosie’s needs, energy, and wellbeing — but the important thing is that the door to storytelling is now open. Writing is no longer a distant dream; it’s something Rosie does.
For Nicola, the work continues too. As an author and publisher, she remains committed to championing young voices, especially those who might otherwise be unheard. Supporting Rosie has reinforced a belief that stories can be life-changing when children are given time, trust, and genuine creative ownership.
Together, the next chapter is about possibility — more stories, more imagination, and more proof that with the right support, dreams don’t have to stay dreams.
Some adventures don’t end on the last page.
www.nightshaders.co.uk
www.twpublishing.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574053023703
More to Books 