Sometimes, an idea can end up taking the most unexpected direction and end up becoming more than was originally intended.

In this case, retired deputy head teacher Rob Cowley didn’t even intend to write a book, let alone witness the chain of effects that his children’s book, ’No Entry’, would have on those who helped him create it.

Rob describes himself as an ’accidental’ author and, when he began to indulge his grandson’s love of reading, he had no idea that his and seven-year-old Ryan’s ideas would turn into an engrossing child’s adventure story.

However, it wasn’t until he sought help to create the imagery that the book began to take shape and the heart-warming story behind ’No Entry’ began.

’Ryan was getting a little bored with the school reading books set for his age, so I thought we’d sit down a write a story together,’ said Rob.

’We based the story around the idea that Ryan, and his younger brother Nathan, would get sucked into his favourite computer game.’

Writing a page a week, Rob conjured up a tale which saw the hero, Ryan, take on the naughty deeds of Christopher Chaos to save Lord Bodmas and the game they had become entrapped by. Before they knew it, Rob had amassed a story of over 12,000 words.

’It was just a lovely grandad and grandson activity to do,’ he said.

’It took a couple of months and we just had a lot of fun together.’

On advice of friends, he decided to see if he could get the story published and realising he needed to illustrate the story, his wife Mercy suggested asking her friend’s 13-year-old daughter Karmen St John-Cain, to bring the story to life.

’The biggest thing for me has been the involvement of Karmen,’ said Rob.

’I am proud of the book, but it really came to life when Karmen got involved.’

Karmen has Asperger’s and can find communicating with others difficult.

However she used her love of reading and drawing to develop a variety of colourful, imaginative and engaging illustrations which brought the characters to life with meaningful and expressive mannerisms.

’Asperger’s is a type of high functioning autism that can result in finding it difficult at times to understand things like irony, or sarcasm and those kinds of day-to-day interactions with people,’ said Rob.

’It’s hard enough being 13- years-old anyway without the added issue of not fully understanding some of those personal interactions.

’What is amazing about Karmen’s artwork is that she has given her characters the most emotional of expressions, particularly in their eyes, and in doing so she has managed to instil that social subtlety into her drawings with a lot of clarity.

’Quite simply, her pictures are awesome. She is clearly a very talented young lady and everything you see in this book came from her own imagination. I didn’t have any input into the artwork.’

Rob said that Karmen’s work on the book has helped give her more confidence with her everyday life and has also helped to open up some opportunities.

Ballakermeen High school, where Karmen is a pupil, intends to place her with an illustrator for her work experience and have also asked her to design the front cover of the school diary next year.

She has also been offered the chance to host an exhibition of her work at Mother T’s community shop and gallery, in Laxey, in October and a professional artist on the island has also offered to help her.

’She has been recognised as a talent and deserves those opportunities and this project has given her a real boost in and out of school,’ said Rob.

’It has given her confidence and created stepping stones to where she could build a future for herself.

’She is communicating more and in better ways, and it has just been lovely to see that happen. Sometimes a book is more than a book and, in this case, what has happened with Karmen is equally as important as getting my book published.

Rob thanked the Isle of Man Arts Council for its support and generosity of the Manx public in helping to raise £1,000 for Autism in Mann from the book sales.

The book is available from the Lexicon and Bridge bookshops and also across the UK at Waterstones.

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers