A retired Aberdeen couple have turned a daydream into a children’s book, featuring some of the city’s most recognisable sights – including its pesky gulls.
Robert and Isobel Phillips were taking a walk along the city’s harbour one night when they spotted a gull on top of a boat, heading out to sea.
They began pondering about what happened to him, and out of that came the story Tammy the Seagull.
The book tells the tale of Tammy, who ignores his parents’ instructions not to fly over the harbour.
When he does, he encounters sea monster Vara, whose favourite meal is a gull.
The couple, of Rose House, Hazlehead, hope it will teach youngsters a valuable lesson in appreciating advice from older people.
Mr Phillips said: “This is an exciting easy-to-read book which includes beautiful pictures. It is a modern day story that will remind children always to listen to their parents’ advice.”
The 83-year-old described how the couple put together the book by talking into the wee hours, imagining the mishaps their hero could get into.
“It was simple, we had dialogue all day and night about how to formulate the story,” he said. “I would do some writing and Isobel would go over the corrections.”
They then decided to send their book to publishers AuthorHouse, who then passed it along to American illustrator Stephen Adams.
Along with their work they sent him photographs of the Granite City, and he included numerous landmarks in the book including Union Street, Marischal College and the harbour.
The story is now being sold as far afield as Beijing, Tokyo and New York, and Mr Phillips said he was hopeful that it would be “a hit somewhere”.
Trusted friend George Mitchell was one of the first people the pair showed the completed Tammy the Seagull story to and he also believes it could be a success.
Former Grampian Television programming director Mr Mitchell believes it has the potential to be turned into an animation series, like the 1980s international hit James the Cat, which showed in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Mr Mitchell, who worships at Queen’s Cross Church with the Phillips, said: “The sales potential is enormous as it is highly visual and you don’t even have to have a firm grasp of English to enjoy it.
“Tammy the Seagull has a lyrical beauty rarely encountered and an emotional pull that lingers long in the mind long after the story is finished.”