After over a year’s work I am near completion on Skippy’s Tale, my second illustrated Cat’s Tales book. While it is a story (albeit based on real events), my intention is to create a childrens’ book whereby Death or Loss can be approached in a subtle way, without purporting to provide answers.
The story concerns a stray cat who was taken in by my friend Des Hayes’ family when he was young. There was a tragic turn of events however, when Skippy’s kittens wandered into a snowy landscape and perished.
It’s not all tragedy though, as we recount also the happy moments of Skip’s life, and how she brought joy also, and had a comfortable existence with her human friends.
Here is a short extract:
‘Emerging out of her home into the newly snow covered garden, she called for her young. But there was no response.
From the high vantage of her roof she could not spy them, but observed a trio of tiny paw-prints, and followed them…’
I hope to go to print in August, and have a few launches around the country.