Apart from a cover design, the 12th Katie book is finished and safely delivered to Orchard Books. They seemed to like it. I'm pretty pleased and think it has something a bit special about it, I must admit. A dream like quality that I'm a tiny bit excited about.
As always when a book is finished, I feel a bit bereft. Nevertheless this feels like a good moment to pause, and so I told my editor yesterday that I have decided that Katie will take a break for a while now. Indeed, it feels like this could be a fitting end to this series.
Katie will not quite disappear from my radar as I will be involved with the Splats Entertainment theatre show of Katie over the next year. And who knows what the future will bring...?
So it may not be farewell, only au revoir...
But after a quarter century of Katie, it feels just a bit like the end of an era.
You have created a beautiful character in Katie. She has been a beloved "friend" to each of my children, and will continue to be one for my young students. Thank you James, for introducing us to such wonderful stories and through them to some of the world's best art!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Ah, James! The Katie series is something you should be immensely proud of, whatever you decide -- a strain of beauty on the bookshelf, and a gateway to a world of art for the young.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on sending Katie off her 12th adventure! I'm thrilled to find that you blog, too, Mr. Mayhew! (I was doing research on 2-3 of my favourite picture book illustrators for my blog tomorrow and am so glad to find your posts.)
ReplyDeleteI love your stories & paintings. =)
Thank you all for the kind comments. I hope Katie has done a little to celebrbrate art; I hope she continues to do so. There will still be events and other Katie related things, so the show isn't completely over!
ReplyDeleteYou have left a wonderful legacy with Katie, you should be proud...!
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I wanted to say is that the ilustration you have post here is just wonderful, it has something special...