Dear Beatrix,
Gillian Young, Poppy Loves Devon
How do I begin to write a letter to someone who has impacted my life for over forty years? It’s funny that coming from one author to another, it’s hard to find the right words to express my gratitude, so I shall start by saying, ‘thank you.’
When I was a child, my parents read The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny to me every night. Those tales resonated with me, helped me sleep and fed my imagination. Your characters are mischievous, caring, cheeky, funny, innocent and brave. I’d gaze at my pet rabbit and imagine him straying into Mr McGregor’s garden just like Peter and his cousin, Benjamin. I’d imagine him stealing lettuces with Peter and Benjamin, then escaping from the farmer’s cat only to run into Jemima Puddleduck. Jemima, waddling through the forest in her shawl and poke bonnet, chased squirrel Nutkin, who’d raced up a tree to escape a swarm of bees he’d upset whilst hunting for nuts. Do you see where I’m going with this? At that early age, your books inspired me to create my own stories.
Fast forward thirty years. I have children of my own. We take a holiday to the Lake District because it’s a beautiful part of the country and perfect for taking our dog on long walks. When we arrived, we realised it was also your home. We were in Beatrix Potter country.
Whilst at the Lake District, we visited The World of Beatrix Potter - a place dedicated to you and your books. That’s when I witnessed my children - the next generation - falling in love with your work. Your characters and their adventures make both children and adults smile. Even after all these years, everyone knows who Mrs Tiggy Winkle, Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin and Benjamin Bunny are.
For the next few years, I was the one sitting on the edge of the bed reading The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny to my children. Night after night, they listened to your stories, each time just as enthralled as the first.
You inspired me to write stories for my children. Willow, our Border Collie, replaced Peter Rabbit. None of them were published, but it was the start of my writing career.
Fast forward another twenty years, and Poppy, the crazy cream retriever, replaced Peter Rabbit and Willow. Like Peter and Benjamin, she gets into scrapes, adventures and fun. She’s a joy to write about and fun to draw. And that’s another reason why I love your work – your illustrations. They add charm and character to your tales and bring the characters to life.
Beatrix, it feels like you’ve been my life-long friend and career advisor because it’s thanks to you that I’ve become a children’s author.
Thank you for inspiring me and for all the joy you’ve given generations past, present and future.
Gratefully yours,
Gillian
Poppy Loves Devon By Gillian Young - Out June 2022, Paperback and eBook, available online and bookshops
Online: www.gillianyoungauthor.com
Genre: Children's Fiction, Middle Grade, Chapter Book
Publisher: Troubador
About Poppy Loves Devon
Get ready for the second in the Crazy Cream Adventure Series - following on from Poppy on Safari - the pampered life of this crazy cream retriever is turned upside-down when she discovers a lost puppy whilst on holiday with her family.
Poppy wants to befriend anything that moves, but she's never successful. It seems all the other animals find her too big, loud and boisterous. Dad is convinced she needs a playmate, but Poppy's unsure. She enjoys the fuss and attention from her family so much, she is not willing to share. The choice is taken away from her when one day a puppy comes along.
However, Poppy soon discovers the puppy is lost and alone. Her big heart and caring nature kicks in when she discovers a monster lurking in a nearby wood. Poppy must act fast to save the farm, her family - and the puppy. Meanwhile, a handsome border collie ticks all the boxes as the ‘perfect' dog - but is he? Poppy Loves Devon follows her pursuit of making friends but not realising what's under her very nose.
About the Author
Gillian Young is a full-time writer and illustrator of children's middle-grade fiction.
Gillian has always been passionate about writing and art. Following art college, she worked as a Graphic Artist. During this time, she settled down, got married and had two children. Becoming a mother reintroduced her to the magic of children's fiction. Every night she'd read Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny to her kids. Eventually, she had the idea of writing stories of her own.
To be an author was still her dream - that had never gone away. Snatches of time between going to work and taking care of the children were spent bent over her laptop writing - until 2015…
A battle with cancer led Gillian to re-evaluate her life. Writing was her medicine and it was because of this that she decided to ‘go for it ' and focus on becoming an author.
Much of Gillian's work is inspired by her golden retrievers who have achieved some fame around the world through their Instagram page (crazy.cream.retrievers). Following her previous books, Poppy on Safari, and Tammy and Willow, Gillian has appeared on radio and magazines talking both about her books and her experiences fighting and defeating the big 'C'.
Gillian lives with her family in Worcestershire.
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