An East Belfast author has penned his first children's book to help young people suffering from mental health worries.
Dan Leith wrote The Stargazing Otter to offer comfort and support to young people as rate of anxiety and depression soar during the pandemic.
The book tells the tale of an otter who finds himself so caught up with the beauty and details of the world that he is left behind on the riverbank and must find the courage within himself to move on.
Dan said the idea for the book first came about some time ago, but it was during the first weeks of lockdown, with theatres closed and work cancelled, that he was able to develop the project.
The project was one of 88 funded back in April through the Arts Council’s £500,000 Artists Emergency Programme, a support fund set up using National Lottery funds to help artists continue their work and connect with communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although this is Dan’s first children’s book, he has been working as a freelance performing artist and theatre-maker since graduating from Queen’s in 2008.
He said: "This is my first children’s story that I have created in a non-theatrical medium and I am really pleased with how it’s turned out.
"I’ve worked with the fantastic illustrator, Vicki Firth, and it’s been really exciting to see my ideas take shape on page.
"As a full time artist, like many others, all of the work I had planned for this year - shows, workshops, performances - have been cancelled. Receiving funding from the National Lottery through the Artists Emergency Programme has been a great support over the last few months and allowed me to keep working and really focus on my writing."
The project is now nearing completion and Dan is making final preparations to launch it as an ebook. He has also recorded an audio version of the book, complete with sound recordings gathered from the wildlife and waterways which flow through East Belfast.
"The story is something that I’ve had in my mind for some time," he said.
"It touches on themes of anxiety and mental health, which I am sure a lot of people have been struggling with this year. I am used to telling my stories through theatrical means, but this just seemed like the right time to tell this story, even if it was in a different format than I am used to.
"I wouldn’t rule out the story being turned in a piece of theatre for young audiences in the future. I would love to bring it to live audiences someday."
Damian Smyth, Head of Literature, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: "Artists have been among the hardest hit groups, with projects delayed, venues closed and events cancelled for the foreseeable future. All of this is having a major impact on our cultural and creative lives. Over the next few months, I’m really looking forward to seeing Dan’s story being published along with all the other projects that this vital funding has helped to support."
