ELISH AND THE WICKER TALE by Hertfordshire press

Graphic novel adaptaion by Timur Akhmedjanov

EL IS H AND THE WICKER TALE Original story by Kamran Salayev “Elish and the Wicker tales”

HERTFORDSHIRE PRESS

For Sophie, Daniel, Alena, Olesya, Veronika, Ivan, Maxim, Adelya, Lyaisan, Ildar, Diana, Artem, Victoria, Eva, Antoshka & Our grandparents Maria & Ismoil Akhmedjanovs

I’M REALLY HAPPY TO BE ASKED TO SAY A WORD IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT Autism makes difficult the lives of many, many young people around the world, and the worry is that it seems to be increasing, with one in 160 already known to have ASD, and maybe many more yet to be diagnosed. For many suffering ASD, the biggest problems are often not being understood – and not understanding yourself. That’s why ‘Elish’ is such an amazing project. This series of comics, based on the children’s book, ‘Elish and the Wicker Tales’ by Kamran Salayev, uses the simplicity and visual impact of cartoons to break through the barriers that often confront autistic children when faced with a sea of words. I wish it every success!

— Timothy Charles Robert Noel Bentinck, 12th Earl of Portland, MBE, commonly known as Tim Bentinck, is an English actor and writer, known for his long-running role as David Archer in the BBC Radio 4 series, The Archers.

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HELLO AND WELCOME TO ELISH AND THE WICKER TALES! Have you ever had a true passion for something? One that encompasses the fiber of all your being, or one that you want to keep up for your entire adult life? These passions are important life skills – not obsessions or distractions. And it is important to keep these arts and crafts traditions alive through the generations. As a pianist and composer, I know this fact firsthand. And so we bring you to the story of Elish, a boy who spends all his spare time making wickerwork baskets. He is an artisan in the true original sense of the word, yet not always appreciated by the wider society. It is always important for your life to serve a higher purpose as you grow up. And I hope that more people continue to adopt the ways of Elish as the world continues to change and these skills are needed more than ever. After all, you never know when your inventions and gadgets will come in handy in a land of unusual creatures and spirits… — Matt Savage, Jazz musician, Bandleader and Composer In April 2015, Matt opened for Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Shawn Colvin and others at Autism Speaks’ “Light Up the Blues” concert event in Hollywood.

FROM THE AUTHOR

Thank you to everyone who has supported this project for the last few months. I’ve had a lot of fun making this adaptation and I hope that the message in this comic reaches those who need it most; whether it’s to help children with autism or because you simply want to have something to read, hopefully, you’ll find something here to enjoy. I want especially thank Kamran Salayev for writing this intriguing story, Hertfordshire Press for publishing my book and, most importantly to ECG & all the people (220 form 25 countries) listed below as well as the people that had donated to the project anonymously who have funded and supported this project and who I can’t thank enough. — Timur Akhmedjanov, author London Film Academy student Aaron Chalmers Adam Siemienczyk Adilzhan Khabiyev Ahmed Omar Aiday Imankulova Aigerim Shilibekova Aiya Maxutova Albina Bagrets Aldona Grupas Aleksandra Vlasova Aleksei Davydov Alymkul Isakov Alua Kozhakhmetova Alua Kussainova Alvirt Akhmedjanov Alyona Chernova Anara Forrester Anastasia Shevchenko Andrey Serdyuk

Angelina Krasnogir Anna Kuzminykh Anna Lari Anna Lopatin Anna Maslenikova Anna Rabotkevich Anton Kovalenko Antonina Karimova Arslan Koichiev Artem Akhmedjanov Ayca Apak Azamat Segizbaev Bakhtygul Makhanbetova Barshagul Tlepina Bayramgeldi Nepesov Bela Kogan Birdamlik Bubuira Bektenova Chan Hooi Ling

Chris Fortcha Damien Hardy Dana Zheteyeva Dana.lapa Daria Lebedeva Dastan Abikov Dave Martin David Pearce David Wallington Denis Kuznetsov Diana Vaisberg Dilfuza Yuldasheva Diloram Ibrahimova Dilorom Smyth Dinara Kushbaeva Dinara Mamaeva Dmitrij Bukrejev Dmitriy Korotkov Dmitriy Vnuchkov Eduard Shalayev Ekaterina Zgurskaya Elen Koro Elena Bezrukova Elena Danilchenko Elena Izyumsksya Elena Korneeva Elvira Akhmedjanova Eugeniy Massalygyn Eugenette Morin Ev Alexsandrovich Evgenia K Evgeniy Zhuravli Evgeniya Sadovnikova Evgeniya Tretyakova Farkhat Minekeev Fyodor Semyonov Galina Babak Geliya Chukmarova Genadiy Gorovoy Gerrie Skeens Gulnara Sachs

Gulsifat Shakhidi Gulzada Hamra Gumer Karimov Hafiz Saeed Ur Rehman Hamid Larbi Inessa Agnew Inessa Amber Inna Skachko Irene Yavchunovsky Irina Batsenko Iuliia Prokopeva Jika Beishenaly John Farndon Jonathan Campion Joshua Brown Julia Harding Jyldyz Niyazalieva Kamal Hasanov Kanat Tumysh Kim Kristina Ksenija Bukrejeva Lana Skhshidlevskaya Larisa Pak Larissa Prodan Larysa Belskaya Lazzat Kadirbayeva Levent Aysan Linara Iskakova Ludmila Dubcovetcaia Ludmila Sinyakovskaya Ludmilla Chebotarev Luke Baldwin Madina Abdurasulova Madina Junussova Maksut Erlanov Malika Kurbanova Marina Galygina Marina Podlesnaia Marina Sipakova Mariya Bartochshuk Mariya Kobezhikova 62

Matthew Traver Michael Ananov Michael Quinn Michael Sagatis Mikhail Volkov Mirpayoz Mirsaatov Nadezhda Serebrennikova Nadia Olefir Nargisa Karasatora Natalia Luibchevkaia Natalia Shevchenko Nataliya Peretrutova Nellya Galieva Nigara Khidoyatova Nikolay Kovynev Nina Belomestnova Nodir Latipov Nodira Mansurova Nurym Taibek Oksana Zhukova Olesya Shibaeva Olga Baby Olga Chernienko Olga Cretu Olga Gafarova Olga Petrouchenko Olga Taylor Olga Zhilina Olga21uz Pavel Kosukha Rahat Jusupova Ralina Iskakova Ray Art Robert Crane Roger Holland Roman Limbakh Roman Pliev Russian Embassy in UK S_madeniet Sagyn Berkanalieva Sanjar Umarov

Sanzhar Kadyrbaev Sariya Mammadova Shahsanem Murray Shamil Akhmedjanov Shukhrat Oshurb Sofia Iskakova Soledad Bayazit Stephen M. Bland Surya Esentaeva Tanya Vorontsov Tanzilya Akhmedjanova Tatiana Shevchenko Temirlan Zhabayev Titiana Doronina Uali Abdrakhim Valentina Dynich Valeria Alekperova Valeriya Dautbayeva Venera Akhmedjanova Victoria Levin Viktor Garbuzov Viktor Kavatsyuk Viktor Zharlikov Viktoriya Zueva-Krasnoslobodzeva Vladlena Safonova Yana Savelyeva Yelena Aslanyan Yelena Fursa Yerkin Kaliyev Yesbol Abenov Yevgeniya Sikhimbayeva Yulia Ulyamaeva Yuliya Polyakova Yuri Rapoport Zaynab M Dost Zina Karaeva Zulfiya Kulzhabay

HERTFORDSHIRE PRESS

ELISH AND THE WICKER TALE Graphic novel adaptaion by Timur Akhmedjanov Original story by Kamran Salayev “Elish and the Wicker tales” English Project manager: Angelina Krasnogir Design: Alexandra Rey

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Catalogue in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book has been requested

ISBN: 978-1-913356-19-4 64

Earlier this year we started two campaigns to help co-fund our charity project for children with autism. ‘Elish and the Wicker Tale’ is a graphic novel based on the orginal story by Kamran Salayev. It follows the life of Elish, a young boy who has trouble communicating and coping with the world around him. Elish would rather keep to himself, doing what he loves more than anything, crafting wicker artifacts. Once trouble stirs in his world, however, Elish is set on the path of adventure, forced to step outside his comfort zone and confront his fears in order to help those around him. Elish’s behavior and insecurities mirror those of children from around the globe who suffer from autism. Just like Elish, children with autism find it hard to understand and relate to people, so they end up devoting their time to something they can understand, usually a hobby or craft such as wicker-making. Kamran Salayev’s goal is to promote awareness of this subject through his book and Timur has decided to join him in that endeavor. As of spring 2020, Timur has been working on a comic/graphic novel adaptation of ‘Elish and Wicker Tale’. With support from the crowdfunding campaigns, we are able to publish the graphic novel, allowing children both with and without autism to access this story in a more visual and engaging form. Sales will also contribute to the cause, with 20% of profits going directly to charities and organizations that tackle autism and make the lives of children affected by autism easier and happier. The main objectives of the project: • • • •

Draw attention to the social inequality of autistic and healthy children. To create a new tolerant look for children through the illustrations. Show the main opportunities of children with autism through the character of “Elish” This crowdfunding project will help to take a fresh look at the whole social problem and change the established human worldview of the issue.

RRP: £9.99

HERTFORDSHIRE PRESS