This journey has just started | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

She's a fan of books and rides the bus a lot. Now this Glenfield resident has combined the two and penned a picture book - the first of many, she tells Sophie Bond.

One look at Sian Thomas' face tells you this is a good day. The 22-year-old has just been handed the proof of her first book, Bus Driver Bob, and she's beaming.

The humorous tale of a driver with an unexpected passenger was inspired by interesting people Miss Thomas spied on the bus. "I got the idea for the book from a bus ride I went on once. One of the passengers was an old man who had fallen asleep."

At speed, she lists the other characters - a blind woman, a doctor, Fred the farmer, and a chicken that causes chaos.

Regardless of her intellectual disability, the Glenfield resident is always writing. She wrote and illustrated the children's story over the past six months. With the help of a small loan from Paradigm, she hired a graphic designer for the final touches and to order an initial print run of 100.

Paradigm is a service of the Parent and Family Resource Centre established to support young people with disabilities. Project manager Caroline Campbell, who has dropped by to deliver the first proof to Miss Thomas, says the service aims to help young people live the lives they want. "The Paradigm Angels is our funding arm whereby people have donated money that can be used as seed funding for small businesses."

Miss Thomas made a presentation to Paradigm with a draft of her book and was given a small interest-free loan to publish it.

She will be personally responsible for handling orders of her book and shows me her marketing plan complete with a list of possible retailers. She's thinking further ahead, too. "I'd like to write more books in the series. Bob the Bus Driver will be back."

When she's not writing or drawing, Miss Thomas works part-time at the Glenfield Mall Paper Plus where she's in charge of the Beanies (soft toy) display. She is also studying NCEA German and creative writing  by correspondence.

"When I've got free time, I head to the library. It's my home away from home. Picture books, chapter books, you name it, I read it." She hopes she'll see a copy of her own book there soon.

Ms Campbell suggests they go to Paper Plus after the interview to ask the owner about holding the book launch in the store. Miss Thomas gives hugs and high-fives at this suggestion before whooping with delight and bounding off to find her shoes.

Book stall

Sian Thomas' book, Bus Driver Bob, may be ordered by emailing: sianthomasbooks@gmail.com The cost is $15 plus postage and packaging.