About us

Dawn Crowle - Author

I was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 14. My daughter was diagnosed at 7 years old. I have been a project manager for 12 years. I wanted to write a book for my daughter Sophie, to help her understand dyslexia.

Throughout my education, I had a passion for creativity. I took Art and Graphics and Design at A Level, I went on to a local Art college, where I studied Photography and Arts. From there I started to apply for university places, within the Art and design area. I fell in love with DeMontfort University in Leicester, where I studied Fine Art for 3 years.

Although Art was a real passion for me, when I returned home from the University, I was unsure of my next steps. I enrolled in a recruitment agency that sent me to local Wiltshire offices. I started in a firm as a receptionist, and worked my way up to a Lead Project manager. During that time I worked alongside some amazing creatives. There was an illustrator, Rhiannon Jones, who I worked with for a few years, and I knew she had a passion for children's books, and I loved her illustrations. I asked Rhiannon if she would illustrate my book for Sophie and she jumped at the chance and from there our partnership started.

Rhiannon was also such a huge part of the story journey too. Helping me link the story together and adding in some amazing ideas. From then, the few words on the page grew into a fully illustrated story. Funnily enough, my mum found a book I wrote when I was at primary school.

Rhiannon Jones - Illustrator and co-writer

I have always loved books so it feels like a natural progression for me to be involved with this amazing project. As a child I loved drawing, reading and writing stories. When I was in college, I wrote and illustrated my first children's book for an extra credit project, and that was when I realised I wanted to be a children's book illustrator. That project led me to study illustration at university, where I wrote and illustrated multiple other children's books for different projects. Eventually I wound up with a job as a technical illustrator, and although I love illustrating, I found the technical aspect to be too constraining. From there I decided to do a master's degree in illustration with a focus on children's illustration so I could have more creative freedom.

Whilst studying I fell pregnant so I decided to put my studies on hold for a while. I had a beautiful baby boy and I have been enjoying reading him all the children's books I loved as a child, along with discovering new ones. I now feel more inspired than ever!

When Dawn first asked me to be involved with the book I was so excited! It's been an amazing experience and I hope this book will help some children to feel supported after their diagnosis.