Preston’s award-winning sports coach, TV sports commentator and former Team GB ice dance champion, Louise Walden-Edwards is producing her very first children’s book.
Inspired by her own ice skating journey and her passion for inclusion, Louise’s book has a centralised theme around inclusion and diversity in sport, particularly ice skating.
Her book is titled “The Ice Dream Sundays” and was released for general sale on 23rd September 2025.
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Having started ice skating late at age 11, Louise was perceived by some as too old to go far. She continually battled against individuals’ perceptions, illness, injury and personal setbacks, to beat the odds.
Living with and hiding her own additional needs of Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome, her passion is fuelled to demonstrate that “differences” can be our superpowers and don’t need to hold you back.
Louise said: “I created the concept back in 2017 when I was forced to retire from professional sport due to bad health. I wrote the words in 2018 and then slowly created the illustrations over time.”
“Once I had both the words and the pictures complete, I put them both away in a drawer at home, in all honesty too scared to make my dream a reality. Finally earlier this year, I found the courage to take a leap of faith, work with someone to help me format the book and bring my story and my characters to life.”
“The Ice Dream Sundays” story is told by the main character Mia Estelle (M.E) who is a shy little girl, lacking in confidence and acceptance.
One Sunday Mia is taken to the ice rink by her mum, initially she is reluctant to try something new and totally unaware that her life is about to change forever.
Louise said: “What this book has always been about is trying to increase participation in sport, encouraging others to follow their dreams no matter what, embracing our differences, being proud of who we are and inspiring people to believe they deserve to succeed and belong, by being themselves.
“If I manage to encourage any of this at all, my journey from concept to creation will have been worth it.”
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