Daniel Linaker Interview on How Coen the Unicorn Inspires Children to Embrace Being Different
Daniel Linaker is an award-winning independent children’s author and full-time field service technician who swapped photocopiers for hi-vis, security infrastructure and, unexpectedly, children’s books. Inspired by the real Coen and his experiences with autism and ADHD, Daniel created Coen the Unicorn to help children understand that being different is something to embrace, not change.
In this interview, he shares the unlikely journey behind Coen the Unicorn, the importance of authentic neurodiverse representation, and his vision for growing “Be Unique, Be You” from a simple message into a trusted children’s brand.
Daniel Linaker, Author & Creator
Before Coen the Unicorn, your life looked very different, from moving from the UK to Australia to building a career as a full-time field service technician. What happened along that journey that led you to create Coen the Unicorn, and how did the real Coen inspire the character and its message?
In 2017, my life couldn’t have been further away from writing children’s books. I was living in the UK, fixing printers and photocopiers for Midshire Business Systems. I had a great boss and mentor, Julian Stafford, who I still turn to for advice today. When I was given the opportunity at 34 to move to Australia and continue working in the industry, Julian, as did my parents, told me it was a fantastic opportunity and that he wouldn’t stand in my way. So, I packed up my life and moved to Sydney on my own.
It definitely wasn’t all smooth sailing. When COVID hit, I was in Australia on a sponsored visa and couldn’t access government support. It was an incredibly difficult period, and my family in Perth took me in for six months. I’ll always be grateful for that because, without them, there’s a good chance I would have returned to the UK and never come back.
I kept going, eventually gained permanent residency, and after COVID, I could see the photocopier industry was changing. I knew I needed to do something different. That led me to Ezi Security Systems and another great boss, Troy, who, like Julian, has always been someone I can turn to for advice. Today, I maintain, repair and install critical security infrastructure, including gates and anti-terror barriers. So, by day, you’ll normally find me in PPE and a long-sleeved hi-vis shirt, which is probably not the image people have in mind when they think of a children’s author.
But somewhere along that journey, I needed a place to live and became great friends with Alison Galvin. She and her partner had a spare room and kindly let me move in, even though they had a three-year-old son at the time. It was supposed to be short term. Five years later, I’m still there.
That three-year-old was Coen.
I don’t really know how to describe Coen other than to say he is one of a kind. He’s an incredibly empathetic kid, an absolute whirlwind, and completely unique. As I watched him grow and saw the way he experienced the world, I started thinking that I would love to write a story about him. Coen was diagnosed with ADHD and Level 2 autism, but those labels have never defined the funny, happy and caring kid I know.
Then one day I heard him say that he “just wanted a normal brain.” That stayed with me.
It made me realise that I couldn’t think of a character he could look at and genuinely see himself in. I wanted Coen, and other children like him, to understand that being different isn’t something they need to fix or hide. A diagnosis is part of who you are, but it doesn’t define everything you are. The things that make Coen different are also some of the things that make him incredible.
That is where Coen the Unicorn really came from, and it is where the message “Be Unique, Be You” was born. I wanted Coen to know that he didn’t need to become somebody else to fit into the world. He could simply be Coen.
That message has stayed at the heart of every book I’ve written since.
What first made you realize that Coen the Unicorn could become more than a single children’s book?
Coen loved the first book, and when it won People’s Choice Bronze at the 2025 ABLE Book Awards, I realised the message connected. It had meaning without being preachy, and I knew there was more to tell.
How do you turn real experiences of neurodiversity into stories that feel natural rather than instructional?
It can be hard, but I have the best sounding board in Coen. The stories come from his lived experiences and sometimes my own, including being bullied as a child, which keeps them real.
What helps you decide which childhood challenges, such as bullying or self-belief, are right for a Coen story?
I focus on lessons all children need to hear. Coen is also my best guide. If I’m writing for children his age, talking to him and seeing the world through his eyes keeps the stories relevant and real.
What do you think children’s publishing still gets wrong about representing children who experience the world differently?
I think publishing can focus too much on what appeals to the masses. I want children who feel different to see themselves in stories and know they don’t have to fit in. Being different is something to embrace.
How has independent publishing shaped the way you think about building trust with parents, teachers and young readers?
It’s hard getting in front of the right people. I’m no marketing expert, I’m a tradie who writes children’s books. But my good friend Karen the illustrator runs the social media side. Building trust takes time, but I believe if parents and teachers give Coen a chance, they’ll see its heart.
When a difficult subject becomes a story, what makes it easier for a child to understand or talk about?
I think it’s about keeping it simple and making it something a child can relate to. If they can see themselves in Coen and what he’s going through, it can make a difficult subject feel less scary and easier to talk about.
How do you protect the heart of Coen’s message as you expand into areas like education, animation and merchandise?
That’s further down the line, but protecting the message matters. I’ve reached out to hidden disability organisations so we can work together, learn from each other and ensure Coen’s message stays authentic as the brand grows.
What does “Be Unique, Be You” mean to you personally now that the project has grown beyond the original book?
“Be Unique, Be You” means everything to me. Every child should know that we’re all different, and they should never feel they have to change who they are just to fit in. Our differences are what make us unique. That’s what makes each and everyone special.
What would you most like a child to believe about themselves after spending time with Coen?
That they are perfect just the way they are. Nothing and no one should ever make them feel they need to change who they are to fit in. Be proud of what makes you different, because that’s what makes you, you.
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