Scania seal of approval for Emer’s new series
LOCAL author Emer Conlon launched ‘ The Adventure of Vabis the Scania Truck and the Sleeping Volcano’, the latest book in the VroomTown series last Thursday, coinciding with World Book Day.
This book marks a milestone in Emer’s writing career as the book is a Scania Official Licensed Product .
Emer explains that this came about as she works in a Scania dealership and draws inspiration for her books from the Swedish manufacturer’s trucks and buses
‘My journey has a bit of a back story to it in that the idea for the books came from my day job as Marketing Manager of a Scania Dealership - so it has come full circle almost!’
‘I approached Scania in Södertälje, Sweden directly to see if they would have an interest in Vroom-Town. The team really liked the books and the fact that they are portraying a very positive message for trucks - as well as encouraging children to read - caught their attention. So I can officially announce that my latest Vroom-Town book is a Scania Official Licensed Product.
Emer says that it’s ‘an absolute privilege and very humbling that such an innovative, global company has considered a VroomTown book worthy of being a licensed product. There hasn’t been any product offering like this from Scania before, so it is very unique. I am beyond excited about this opportunity and particularly as it is a platform to a very global audience - the potential for this latest book is enormous.
‘I am a little bit proud that having worked with a Scania Dealer for 19 years, now one of my books will feature a Scania truck!’ Emer continues, ‘ The new character name, Vabis will mean something to people that are familiar with Scania. However for those that aren’t, Vabis was actually the name of a Swedish company that initially produced railway carriages and then moved into automobiles and truck production. They merged with Scania in 1911 forming Scania-Vabis and this remained the company name until 1968 when the Vabis name was dropped. When thinking of a name for the Scania truck, I thought Vabis would be a nice ‘nod’ to the history of Scania and it is also a name that children would take at face value.’
As with the other five books in the Vroom-Town series, the new book deals with social issues such as bullying and the importance of friendship and kindness, as well as taking the children on a terrific adventure.
The books are linked with an interactive website where children can play exciting games, enjoy word puzzles, jigsaws and colouring. There is also an ‘as Gaeilge’ version of the website.
Emer concludes, ‘Scania trucks are known as King of the Road, hopefully now, with Vroom-Town, they will also be King of the Shelves! The new book is currently available in Roe River Books Park St. and bookstores nationwide, as well as on line.