WELSH children’s author Gavin Clifton will delight young readers with the next instalment in his Anya adventure series, continuing his commitment to putting inclusive storytelling and disability representation at the heart of children’s literature.
Best-known as The Disabled Writer, Gavin’s latest book ‘Anya and the Crown of Silence’ was published earlier this week, following the success of ‘Anya and the Enchanted Wheelchair.’
Gavin, 44, who was born with cerebral palsy and has a severe speech impairment, uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology to support his speech. The technology has helped him to pursue a career as an author, speaker and disability advocate.
His new book, featuring illustrations by Alison Howard, is aimed at eight to twelve year-olds.
Readers are reunited with Anya, the young wheelchair user at the heart of Gavin’s imaginative children’s series, as she embarks on another magical journey exploring themes such as identity, self-belief and the importance of understanding others.
The second book in the series returns to the enchanted forest of Ravenec, and begins with the arrival of a mysterious crown, carrying secrets from a forgotten past.
With her enchanted wheelchair, a magical pendant gifted by her father, King Torus, and her loyal companions Soopy and Woki by her side, Anya discovers that the crown holds a powerful connection to an ancient queen and a long-lost fortress.
As strange events begin to threaten the forest, Anya must uncover the truth behind the crown and the mysterious forces at work. But something is stirring within the forest, and its magic is behaving in ways no one fully understands.
Filled with mystery and adventure, the book also explores courage, trust, and the choices that define us. Through Anya’s journey, Gavin highlights the importance of listening, understanding others and recognising that true strength lies not in controlling every voice, but in knowing when to hear them.
Gavin draws on his own experiences as a disabled author to help children see themselves reflected in the books they read, while encouraging them to understand and celebrate differences.
Gavin, of Pentwynmawr, near Newbridge in Caerphilly Borough, believes every child deserves to see themselves as the hero of their own story.
“Anya is the kind of hero I want disabled children to find on the shelf,” he said.
“She uses a wheelchair, she has magic, and she is the one making the big decisions in her own story. Disabled children deserve to see themselves as the heroes.”
“Disabled children deserve to open a fantasy book and find someone like them leading the adventure. It matters just as much for the children who are non-disabled. If they grow up reading about a girl who uses a wheelchair and has magic, they will think twice before making assumptions about the disabled child in their class.”
“This is a book about listening. I have been misunderstood for much of my life, and sometimes not heard at all, which has led to missed opportunities. That is why so much of my work is about asking people to slow down and listen, to children, AAC users, and anyone who does not communicate in the way the world expects.”
“Anya learns to do that for herself. She learns to tell the difference between what is loud, wrong and what is true.
“This book is dedicated to every child who’s ever felt unheard, especially the ones who move or speak differently. If one child reads it and thinks ‘that’s me’ then I have achieved my goal.”
His previous books include ‘Max and The Magic Wish,’ ‘Paddy the Polar Bear Teddy’ and his autobiography ‘Cerebral Palsy & Me’.
Through his writing and public speaking, Gavin hopes to encourage people to look beyond disability and recognise the person, their ambitions, and their potential, and to start conversations about difference, identity and inclusion.
‘Anya and The Crown of Silence’ by Gavin Clifton is published on 10 November, 2026. It is available for £6.99 from Amazon or thedisabledwriter.co.uk
