PO Box 3413 Wellington 6015 New Zealand
1 May 2002
Dear Friends,
It is time for another letter which surely must begin like this: Once there was a cat who sat by a computer. By the computer , there was a window filled with dappled sunlight. In front of the window there were grape vines, the green leaves decorated with clusters of purple grapes. Beyond the grape vines there was a garden of roses, and fruit trees with apples and pears, and beyond that, hills to the left and the sea to the right. The hills were golden and buttery in the sun and the sheep on them were eating grass that tasted of sunshine. The sea too, was spread with sun. It sparkled and glittered and when a fish jumped, the surface broke into white fire. The cat by the computer, sat looking at all this, and dreaming. The cat's friend at the computer, was also dreaming. It is very hard to concentrate on work on such a beautiful day. Thank you for your feedback on the website. These days there is so much war in the news that it is good to know that the world is encircled by friendship. If I wasn't a part of that circle, I don't think I could write. I've been asked about new books, and I have something wonderful to tell you. Many of you will know the delicious illustrations that Elizabeth Fuller does for the Wishy-Washy books. Well, I have just seen the drawings for a new book which is different from the others. The difference is that this will be a full 32 pages picture book, not a 16 pages school reader. It's called "Wishy-Washy Farm" and it will be published later this year by Philomel of the Penguin Putnam Group, New York. I think that the story is supposed to be a secret until the book comes out, but I can tell you a little. The cow, the pig and the duck are so tired of being wishy-washed that they run away to the city where the barns are big. But the city is not a very friendly place and after a couple of difficult adventures, poor cow, pig and duck, end up in the animal jail! I can't tell you any more except that the pictures are just gorgeous! Clever Elizabeth Fuller! Not long ago, I was in a writing workshop with some young friends who were writing about their dreams. At the time, I thought that this was something that only a group of young writers could do. Most adults don't remember their dreams. Don't ask me why this is so. I an remember some but not all, and the dreams I do remember don't usually mean much. For example, two nights ago I dreamed I was knitting a saucepan! Is that silly or is that silly? I mention dreams because I have a useful hint for young writers who are troubled by bad dreams which we sometimes call nightmares. If you write out your bad dream in detail, there is a good chance that it won't come back. But you will have good dreams, too. Some young authors get ideas for stories from their dreams. Do you? With much love from your friend, Joy Cowley

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