Entertainer and Steps megastar Ian H Watkins is set to swap pop for literature, with the launch of his debut children’s book Pride and the Rainbow Warriors.
Illustrated by award winning Welsh artist and designer David Gregory, the enchanting book sees ‘The Rainbow Warriors’ on embark upon a journey to teach readers of all ages the definition, history and importance of Pride, and what it means to be included in the LGBTQ+ community.
As well as reinforcing the message to children that being different is their superpower, the warriors also serve to inform readers that Pride is a safe space that allows people to be open about themselves without being judged by others, as they celebrate what makes them unique.
“‘The Rainbow Warriors’ is the book I wish I’d had when I was younger,” Ian says. “Growing up, I didn’t see myself in the stories I was told. This book celebrates diversity and reminds everyone that they belong exactly as they are. It’s a story about treating people with respect and about celebrating all the wonderful things that make us different.”
Ian H Watkins first rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of the British pop group Steps.
Famous for hits including ‘5, 6, 7, 8’, ‘One For Sorrow’, ‘Stomp’ and ‘Scared of The Dark’, to date the group have sold over 22 million records worldwide and achieved four UK Number 1 albums across four decades.
Away from the pop world, Watkins has appeared in various theatre productions, most notably Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Fame, as well as on reality shows Celebrity Big Brother, Tumble and Bargain Hunt Famous Finds.
In 2020, Ian made history as one half of the first same-sex pairing on ITV’s Dancing on Ice, becoming a visible advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media. He is also the founder of Cowbridge Pride, a community-led celebration of inclusion and equality in South Wales.
Now embracing a new chapter as a painter, his artwork has been a resounding success, with multiple sold out exhibitions around the UK.
Pride and the Rainbow Warriors is available to pre-order at www.atebol.com
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