PO Box 3413
Wellington 6015
New Zealand
7 February 2007
Dear Friends,
Sometimes I listen to the bird noise and wonder what it means. Do birds sing simply because they feel like singing? Are they defining their territory? Are they passing on important messages to each other? Or are they telling the stories of their lives, stories about trees and weather and long nights of dreams under a sky bright with stars? I don't know. But the idea that birds tell each other stories, reminded me of my own childhood when my sisters and I used to curl up in one bed while I told made-up stories about children like us who had fantastic adventures. I think that most young people like to tell stories, especially when they are very young. Sometimes, big people don't value these stories. They think that the young person is "telling lies." While it's important for children to know the difference between fact and fiction, stories should be valued for what they are - an important expression of emotion and imagination. My children and grandchildren have been wonderful story-tellers and have made up wild stories about their activities. They used to say with great satisfaction, "That was a story!" Then the big people would applaud and someone would put the story on paper so that the young storyteller could illustrate it.
Sadly, if stories aren't valued, children will stop telling them and the imagination, not valued, will wither with neglect.
Sometimes, people ask me, "When did you begin writing?" I think the question should be, "When did you start telling stories?" Writing books didn't just happen. Before I had published work, there were years of writing stories for pleasure and before that, writing stories for teachers, and before that, telling stories to my sisters. Of course, I knew the difference between fact and fiction. Fact belonged to one part of my life, and fiction to another. The two didn't get mixed up. Yet somehow, the story supplied all the excitement that was missing in our lives. It also helped to empower us and solve our problems.
I'm putting all this on a website letter because I believe that children's stories are undervalued. If you are a young person, understand that your stories are an important part of your life. If you are a teacher, parent or care-giver, do encourage a young child to create stories. It is at this stage that writers and artists are formed.
Having said that, I can now go on to let you know what I've had published recently. Not much, I'm afraid. I'm slowing down with age. In 2006 Mimosa McGraw -Hill published 10 plays for children to read aloud. Early this year, Mimosa will also publish 15 short chapter books in their Signature Series. These are designed to bridge the gap between picture books and junior fiction. Last year, the children's novel "Hunter" was New Zealand Children's Book of the Year. That was exciting! Also last year, Greedy Cat made another appearance in a picture book, "Greedy Cat and the Sneeze." My latest children's novel "Chicken Feathers" will be published in New Zealand this year by Penguin and will come out in the States with Philomel about a year later.
That's it, dear friends. Remember what I said about valuing your stories. They are the sweet flowers of your imagination and they enrich your days.
With love to you all,
Joy Cowley
