Adventures with Grampy transform into children’s storybooks

CURLEWIS’ Norbert Heimeier started making storybooks for his six-year-old grandson Eric using his own illustrations to compliment the stories.
Fast-forward about a year and the recently retired local is well on his way to having written, illustrated and self-published five children’s book.
His latest – Grampy Says – takes a light hearted look at what Grandpa may say to his grandchildren about his exploits where there may have been a bit of spice added to create greater interest.
This follows on from a series of booklets with titles such as Skater Boy and the Evil Barber, Skater Boy and the Bloodstone, Skater Boy and the Wrestling Show, and Skater Boy and the Beach Party, which he intends to publish soon.
“He (Eric) asked me about why I didn’t have any hair and then we started exaggerating the story and talking about an evil barber and then Guy Sebastian, he has a song called Bloodstone, and that came on the radio, and he loved that song, so I incorporated the bloodstone into the story – the bloodstone gave him super powers,” Mr Heimeier said.
“And then it just went on and on, and then I did the wrestling show because we were into wrestling so I did some wrestling characters, and then went a bit bigger and incorporated rock n roll.
“My exaggerated stories had to be documented as I was being caught out in contradictions by his inquisitive mind.”
Mr Heimeier said he wanted Eric to have something to remember him by, which came in the form of stories of their little adventures.
When Mr Heimeier retired last year, he also joined Annette Playsted’s Beginner Art Class at SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre, and uses these newly learnt skills in his books.
While Mr Heimeier’s books are available on Amazon, they are also at Beach Books in Barwon Heads and bookgrove in Ocean Grove.
He will also be selling his books and artwork at the annual Leopold Kindergarten Community Fete on Sunday August 25 inside the LINC at Leopold Primary School.
For more information, or to buy one of his works, call Norbert Heimeier on 0436 029 622 or email [email protected].